New Year's Eve - December 31

I thought there would be more work going on today but I was mistaken. I'm here but only in body.

The trip to Houston was a good one - too short though. It rained on Wednesday all day so that cut the golf game out. I did take advantage of good nap weather however. I also met up with my friend Glenn who advised me to do 3 20 mile runs in preparation for the marathon (!) So I've got my first one tomorrow. Good way to start off the new year.

I'm working on a new blackeyed pea recipe so I plan to do that this afternoon. Also to hit the golf course. Weather is perfect now!

See you next year!

Monday Dec 27

All good things must come to an end and so, Christmas vacation and family visit end as well. Mom and Dad went back to Kingsville this morning and Greg went back to work. I did some admin work at the court this morning, and after a quick lunch, hit the office.

I let my assistant know we had 2 goals:
Clear off the papers and files
Offload as much work as possible on her :)

We accomplished both. She'll have enough to work on until I return. I got the papers put away. I also got lots of status emails out letting people know what was going on and that I'd be out until Friday. Felt like yelling into the open - not sure anyone was there to listen...

Goals for 2011

Some of the things I'd like to accomplish in 2011

That drive to California - Midland TX too

Might as well see Oregon while I'm there

An extended trip (2 weeks+?)

Top 100 golf - preferably for free as writtten before :) America's Guest is back on scene

Improving skills: guitar, piano, golf, swim, bike, run, triathlon, ... oh yes, law too

See Frank complete the Leadville 100 mile run

Sarah's senior year football season - that is only 9 months away from starting...

Merry Christmas 2010

Last night began our Christmas celebration. I cooked a prime rib roast - my first. Thanks to my friend Eric J for the recipe. He assures me that it is always trustworthy to get food advice from a fat man.

We ate early because we were to go to the hospital to help give our presents to the patients unlucky enough to be there Christmas Eve. There were also many people working so we gave out gift bags of candy to them as well. It was a nice event to help out it. I pushed the cart around and it reminded me of other jobs I had doing that (Texas Eastern - 1988).

We got home and opened lots of presents. Most of them were for Susan and Sarah. Susan liked her diamond earrings and Sarah liked her VIP concert ticket the best I think.

Today was a nice late morning. Susan cooked a breakfast worthy of the J.W. Marriott and I did not get up until after 9. That's one benefit of having a teenager - no need to get up early on Christmas Day. What a nice present!

Closer to Christmas

Today was Wednesday and I had my golf lesson yesterday.

We discussed the following points:

Staying connected
Drill was to hold head cover/rolled up towel underneath left arm swinging back and through

The Transition - at the top - not rushing. Allowing a complete shoulder turn back

Right Arm extension through follow through
Drill using a rod extending from butt end of club underneath left arm - causes right arm to go under and through

Using the big back and hip muscles to turn through the ball. Less arms and hands. Causing a ball flight that is higher but with less spin - penetrating through the wind.

It must have worked because I was sore after yesterday. I went back to work on it today. Hoping to play 9 holes tomorrow.

Personal morning

I took this opportunity today to handle various personal matters in preparation for this Friday and Saturday, Christmas. So I had made a list of things to do and just about did all of them this morning. I also got a chance to see the progress on the plumbing repair at the church school. We are replacing an old cast iron pipe that was 3 feet underground, under the slab. So it is a big job - that is why its being done during Christmas break.

I did get to work after a while and did some good things. I figured out where to start on a new job - at the... end. It worked. This evening I went to the Vipers game and met someone I had just talked to on the phone. Turns out he is also the CEO of the Vipers. Even had a championship ring from the NBA Development League Championship of last year won by the Vipers. We won big by 30 points.

Now I'm staying up late watching Keeping Up with the Kardashians. Sarah's new favorite.

Just in case you're wondering

Nearly all of the golf courses that I plan to play in 2011 will be as a guest so the cost will be.. you guessed it... -0-

:)

I'm also planning to schedule a trip to play Forest Highlands in Flagstaff, AZ. My friend Lance has a brother who's a member there. This brother is named Scott and I've heard a LOT about him. Probably a good guy to meet. As the #1 course in Arizona, it should be worth a trip. Plus I can visit my relatives in Tucson at the same time.

Maybe that will be the drive out to California that I've been thinking about. On the other hand, maybe just the drive from Phoenix will be sufficient.

Some golf plans for 2011

I'm already working on some various golf plans for 2011. I'd like to expand my list of courses played and the best way to do that is to hit the road.

Clint has a connection to play at TPC Sawgrass in Jacksonville, FL. Hopefully in the 1st Q of 2011. His friend works for III Forks so we should have some good food there as well.

Sean and I are going to visit his parent in South Carolina in February. We're set to play Old Tabby Links at Spring Island and Chechessee Creek Club

John R has a coupon to play Dominion Country Club in San Antonio. He said it expires in April. I think that would be a good trip.

In July Sarah will go to an engineering and robotics course at Stanford University and we are planning to vacation in California. So that is the time that I plan to take Susan to the Monterey Peninsula and I'm planning to play Pebble Beach for the first time. There are many other courses there, so maybe I'll play a second round also. More to come.

This year, I've played some fine courses as well. Playing at the McAllen C.C. has been fun and I did score my low round of 86 recently.

Golf at the UT Golf Club this week was a good time. First time I've played 27 holes in a day all year.

We had our traditional family rounds at the Houston Country Club this January and this June.

Of course, visiting Augusta National Golf Club at the Masters this year was a great highlight. Sean and I did get a round in at the Stone Mountain Golf Club.

I had an invitation to play Red Ledges in Heber City UT outside of Park City but I couldn't make that trip happen. Maybe next year.

Shadow Creek in Las Vegas on January 3 this year was a super highlight. A top 100 course. Well worth the trip and the $500 green fee. The limo ride was worth most of that.

Trip to Austin

I went to Austin on Wednesday for a short trip. I left here about 2:30 to drive and got to Austin at 8:15 p.m. I was visiting my friend Clint who is currently "between jobs". He's been in touch more often (more time I guess) and since we were talking about getting together. He closed the deal by offering a free round of golf at the UT Golf Club but the offer expired (his coupon) on December 31. So I planned to take a day off and headed up.

That Thursday we had a delicious breakfast at the nearby Kerbey Lane Cafe and I had this tasty dish called Eggs Francisco. My friend Francisco would be proud of how they used his name: English muffin, topped with scrambled eggs, bacon, avocado and queso.

We teed off at 10:40 and played with John R who we had goine to high school with and another friend of theirs Luke B. who was a pretty funny guy. We played 27 holes which was a treat. After 18 John said "I want to play more" so he stopped in the pro shop and negotiated another 9 for no charge. So I complimented him on his skills.

After we finished, I drove from Austin to San Antonio and had dinner with my friend/client Glenn and we stuffed ourselved with lamb chops and everything else they had.

This morning, I got up from the night at the Crowne Plaza, left at 0600 and back here at 1000.

A Christmas memory

Susan's and my first Christmas was 1989 and that was the year that there was extreme cold across Texas. It snowed a few days before Christmas in Houston. We had just gotten engaged that October 14. On Christmas eve, we spent time with my family and then cuddled up in front of a fire at Susan's apartment and opened our gifts. That was a special night.

The next day was Christmas Day and we got up to drive up to Fort Worth and spend the week with Janet and Rick. I recall that was a relaxing vacation because it was still very cold. In fact her pipes had froze so we had to heat up water on the stove. I had just finished the first semester of law school and my brain was fried, so I just really took it easy that week. It was fun being around there, and everyone was there: Joel ( age 7) Damon (17) Lois, Rick R. Janet, David, JoAnn, me and Susan. A full house especially with no hot water!

Friday done

This week was a busy one but I got as much done as I could. I did make an important arrangement to go to Austin next Thursday for a game of golf. My friend Clint had called and we were talking about getting together. He said he had a coupon for golf at the UT Golf Club (very nice place) but it expired in December. So my motto came into play: Make It Happen.

I'm driving up next Wed. afternoon, then we play Thursday at 10:40. Dinner Thursday night in San Antonio at my favorite spot Fogo de Chao and staying at a Priceline $65 hotel (Crown Plaza) and then up Friday at 0500 to drive back.

Been a While

I knew it had been some time since posting, but I didn't realize it had been all of December.

We decided against the trip to the Cayman Islands this weekend. There is a big event for the hospital this weekend and Susan has been out on travel a lot. So the insurance people said it could wait til next year. Just like the Longhorns - waiting til next year.

It was sad to look at the bowl schedule and not see UT there. Very strange. Also strange, it used to be that a New Year's Day game was a good thing - no more. Cotton Bowl not til Jan 7, BCS championship on Jan. 10. Aggies play LSU in Cotton Bowl. Should be a good one. Heard good news that our friend Nicole was admitted to Texas A&M for next fall, so the Wren family was excited as were we.

Tomorrow I've got court in the morning and then hopefully will get a lot of work done in the office in the afternoon. I"ve got a new project that it pretty challenging e.g. I haven't done it before. Amazing how a client can just gloss right over that. But I'm a smart lawyer so I'll do it.

The Memorial band has their concert tomorrow night so I'm looking forward to that. It's a Christmas tradition to hear the Jazz Band play with the Christmas hats on.