The night before my arbitration hearing in Austin, I had this nightmare which woke me up. I was glad wake up from it.
I dreamed I had fallen asleep in the room in which our arbitration was to start at 9 a.m. I woke up a few minutes before 9 as people were walking in to start. They were quite surprised to see me and were somewhat upset. But I was already dressed in my suit and tie, and had my rest. I popped up with my hair uncombed but ready to go.
Thank goodness I woke up from that. And needless to say I did wake up on time.
Saturday, January 21, 2017
10 year plan
My friend Jim had an American Air flight delay and said that "my 10 year plan of owning my own jet has become a 5 year plan."
I currently have an American flight delay myself. Since I have my blog to write on,I thought I would work on my own 10 year plan.
It seems a long way away but I a, sure 10 year will come fast - better than not having that time.
So continuing some existing goals is in order. I hope to complete them in 10 years. Sounds reasonable.
As far as newer ones, some ideas are:
Having a case go to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans. Careful what you wish for. That would likely be a result of an earlier loss, or a long shot, or a prisoner case, or something very unusual. It would means going on the road, hostile environment, high stakes. But I think it would be a good career merit badge.
Now that I think of it, I suppose I could let the local judges know of my interest. They could quickly make it happen.
I don't want a jet. In fact I don't want many mechanical things that I can't fix easily. That said, if an old car came about, it would be fun to get into the classic car world. I enjoy being around Munoz friend Keith and his friends. But I don't want to buy my way in, I would like a good opportunity to materialize. Something meant to be. I'll keep an eye out - not just enough to have an opportunity, you've got to act on the opportunity.
I'll keep in the group - they will likely know of such opportunities
Keeping debt down/zero should be part of the plan. That would give extra money to spend on opportunities. Investing all that extra does not sound super appealing. It might go down in value or be tied up with high transaction costs to access it. So cash is king. If I decide to go to another placeI expect it would be a low cost of living place so I don't think I would want/need much
And I'm already in a good place for cost of living. So keeping the home base here is part of the plan.
I'd like to keep an eye out for opportunities in athlete representation as well as movie production. Those are somewhat of a flyer ideas but if I can get a single or two and get into the game that would be good. I don't need a home run to call it a success
And of course my writing I plan to continue. Again I see that as a chain of singles rather than a home run. But I figure if I do what I like/ am good at, that good things will come over time- say 10 years. I just had a good 2 events for my book Hideaway so that will endure. I expect some real life event to occur and someone in public notes it was just like that in the book.
Check back later this year to see if I ahead of schedule in these goals!
I currently have an American flight delay myself. Since I have my blog to write on,I thought I would work on my own 10 year plan.
It seems a long way away but I a, sure 10 year will come fast - better than not having that time.
So continuing some existing goals is in order. I hope to complete them in 10 years. Sounds reasonable.
As far as newer ones, some ideas are:
Having a case go to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans. Careful what you wish for. That would likely be a result of an earlier loss, or a long shot, or a prisoner case, or something very unusual. It would means going on the road, hostile environment, high stakes. But I think it would be a good career merit badge.
Now that I think of it, I suppose I could let the local judges know of my interest. They could quickly make it happen.
I don't want a jet. In fact I don't want many mechanical things that I can't fix easily. That said, if an old car came about, it would be fun to get into the classic car world. I enjoy being around Munoz friend Keith and his friends. But I don't want to buy my way in, I would like a good opportunity to materialize. Something meant to be. I'll keep an eye out - not just enough to have an opportunity, you've got to act on the opportunity.
I'll keep in the group - they will likely know of such opportunities
Keeping debt down/zero should be part of the plan. That would give extra money to spend on opportunities. Investing all that extra does not sound super appealing. It might go down in value or be tied up with high transaction costs to access it. So cash is king. If I decide to go to another placeI expect it would be a low cost of living place so I don't think I would want/need much
And I'm already in a good place for cost of living. So keeping the home base here is part of the plan.
I'd like to keep an eye out for opportunities in athlete representation as well as movie production. Those are somewhat of a flyer ideas but if I can get a single or two and get into the game that would be good. I don't need a home run to call it a success
And of course my writing I plan to continue. Again I see that as a chain of singles rather than a home run. But I figure if I do what I like/ am good at, that good things will come over time- say 10 years. I just had a good 2 events for my book Hideaway so that will endure. I expect some real life event to occur and someone in public notes it was just like that in the book.
Check back later this year to see if I ahead of schedule in these goals!
Sunday, January 15, 2017
Dream memory
I was part of two families staying at an extremely large house. The house was 60,000 square feet so with only 2 groups there, you didn't see the other family.
Our family decided to go visit the other family. While we were meeting we learned that the house was going to be used for the wedding of a Presidential daughter.
At the wedding there was a crime committed and the criminal left by boat, since the house was on a canal. The Secret Service then chased the criminal over water, like we were in Venice.
Our family decided to go visit the other family. While we were meeting we learned that the house was going to be used for the wedding of a Presidential daughter.
At the wedding there was a crime committed and the criminal left by boat, since the house was on a canal. The Secret Service then chased the criminal over water, like we were in Venice.
Saturday, January 7, 2017
2016 Year in Golf
One of my annual goals is to play 12 different golf courses. It started out as "New" courses but that is not so easy for someone who has played as much as me. Here is a list of 12 highlights which to some degree covers 12 courses:
1. Austin Country Club - our family was a former member family so I've been there before. But not since the 80s. Since then, the course has aged, has had a multi million dollar renovation and is the new host of the World Match Play Championship (won in 2016 by Jason Day).
I played with Ed and our host was John C. who I had met while skiing in Utah in January 2015. So it was a great homecoming and we enjoyed our return a lot. The new renovation is first class and definitely improved the course to a very modern feel. Score of 85 from the Riverside tees was a good one.
2. Brackenridge Park, San Antonio. Ed and I continued our golf trip with a visit to one of our favorites. Home of the Texas Golf Hall of Fame includes people that we have known through our careers. Looking back on the scorecard - lowest round of the year of 80. I made birdie on 15, but then double on 16, then good pars on 17 and 18 for 80.
3. McAllen CC. While I played there many times, my second lowest round of the year 81 was there on April 6. I enjoyed playing the Sundowner from April to June - 9 holes on Tuesday evening.
4. Palm View Golf Course, McAllen. I played in the McAllen City Championship. I worked hard to get my game in order but hot windy weather and the pressure made for a tough run of 93-95. Susan said that I looked like I was not having fun and she said I should not play in that tournament again for someone who loves golf otherwise. I agree.
5. Houston CC. The scorecard I have shows 9 holes on March 30 with my father Ed. Birdie on #9 for a 39. I recall the 4 iron as a great shot into the wind as the sun was going down.
6. Palmer Course at La Cantera. I had a free round for 2 there won in a CLE raffle the past year. It was set to expire, so I arranged to drive up, Clint and John came down from Austin and we had a GREAT time - good weather. The day before Clint's 50th birthday. Great course. And a good round of 84.
7. Max Mandel Golf Course, Laredo, TX. This is a new course owned by the City of Laredo. Designed by top designer Robert Trent Jones II it is the best course for the money I've seen in a long time. Again, great weather on Columbus Day. I played really well but finished 5 over on the last 3 holes for 82. Highly recommend!
8. Rancho Viejo, Brownsville, TX. As a course 60 miles away, it is not easy to arrange to go, but I always enjoy the day.. Again I played well in good weather, 84.
9. University Ridge, Verona, WI. Sarah has moved to Madison WI and works in Verona. So my vacation this year was to go to Wisconsin and enjoy a week there. I played 2 times at this course, also a Robert Trent Jones II design. I enjoyed playing with my new friend Woody from Kentucky who was up with his wife and was playing golf while she was at work at Epic of course. I plan to return in 2017 for the American Family Champions Tour tournament. Played fairly well on a tough course both days, 86-86.
10. Soldiers Memorial Field Golf Course, Rochester, MN. I drove to Wisconsin to Minnesota in my 50 state quest to the home of the Mayo Clinic. After checking out the Sports Performance Institute, I had time for 18 holes at this classic track. This sign cemented it as my favorite course of the year:
And I had a great time, stayed until dark. Shot 80 to tie the low round of the year.
11. Odana Hills, Madison, WI. As you can tell, I was able to play a lot of golf on this trip. The course is close in town in Madison and was a very reasonable charge. I was only able to play 9 but will go back for the back 9. Shot 42 in great weather. I have to hand it to the Sconies - when its summer they play a lot outdoors.
12. Golf ATX.org is the website for the Austin city courses. I played 3 and am grouping them together. Lions Municipal is my home course from way back. It is a historic place but alas is set to be bulldozed in 2019. So I wanted Travis to see it before he graduated. He and I played with Clint and Sarah rode in the cart. Great day. And shot 86 - not bad.
Hancock. A ragged old 9 hole muni, barely maintained. Hard to believe it used to the Austin CC from 1899 (or maybe not). But 9 holes was what the day allowed and I was able to play with Travis again with his new clubs for his UT graduation.
Jimmy Clay. The site of my first round of 79 back in 1982. As you can see, I still am looking for those sub 80 rounds. I didn't remember the course as well as I thought, but I did enjoy it a lot. Some holes was been slightly changed over the years due to flood erosion. Played with my good friend Clint again after the UT graduation. A good day and a round of 89.
BONUS:
13. Watters Creek, Plano, TX. 9 holes with my old friend Jeff on the short course 9 holer. Par 30. Playing with old clubs, Jeff playing left handed, just kicking around. A super fun time. And I beat Jeff (never easy). It helped that he was playing left when he is normally right handed :)
1. Austin Country Club - our family was a former member family so I've been there before. But not since the 80s. Since then, the course has aged, has had a multi million dollar renovation and is the new host of the World Match Play Championship (won in 2016 by Jason Day).
I played with Ed and our host was John C. who I had met while skiing in Utah in January 2015. So it was a great homecoming and we enjoyed our return a lot. The new renovation is first class and definitely improved the course to a very modern feel. Score of 85 from the Riverside tees was a good one.
2. Brackenridge Park, San Antonio. Ed and I continued our golf trip with a visit to one of our favorites. Home of the Texas Golf Hall of Fame includes people that we have known through our careers. Looking back on the scorecard - lowest round of the year of 80. I made birdie on 15, but then double on 16, then good pars on 17 and 18 for 80.
3. McAllen CC. While I played there many times, my second lowest round of the year 81 was there on April 6. I enjoyed playing the Sundowner from April to June - 9 holes on Tuesday evening.
4. Palm View Golf Course, McAllen. I played in the McAllen City Championship. I worked hard to get my game in order but hot windy weather and the pressure made for a tough run of 93-95. Susan said that I looked like I was not having fun and she said I should not play in that tournament again for someone who loves golf otherwise. I agree.
5. Houston CC. The scorecard I have shows 9 holes on March 30 with my father Ed. Birdie on #9 for a 39. I recall the 4 iron as a great shot into the wind as the sun was going down.
6. Palmer Course at La Cantera. I had a free round for 2 there won in a CLE raffle the past year. It was set to expire, so I arranged to drive up, Clint and John came down from Austin and we had a GREAT time - good weather. The day before Clint's 50th birthday. Great course. And a good round of 84.
7. Max Mandel Golf Course, Laredo, TX. This is a new course owned by the City of Laredo. Designed by top designer Robert Trent Jones II it is the best course for the money I've seen in a long time. Again, great weather on Columbus Day. I played really well but finished 5 over on the last 3 holes for 82. Highly recommend!
8. Rancho Viejo, Brownsville, TX. As a course 60 miles away, it is not easy to arrange to go, but I always enjoy the day.. Again I played well in good weather, 84.
9. University Ridge, Verona, WI. Sarah has moved to Madison WI and works in Verona. So my vacation this year was to go to Wisconsin and enjoy a week there. I played 2 times at this course, also a Robert Trent Jones II design. I enjoyed playing with my new friend Woody from Kentucky who was up with his wife and was playing golf while she was at work at Epic of course. I plan to return in 2017 for the American Family Champions Tour tournament. Played fairly well on a tough course both days, 86-86.
10. Soldiers Memorial Field Golf Course, Rochester, MN. I drove to Wisconsin to Minnesota in my 50 state quest to the home of the Mayo Clinic. After checking out the Sports Performance Institute, I had time for 18 holes at this classic track. This sign cemented it as my favorite course of the year:
And I had a great time, stayed until dark. Shot 80 to tie the low round of the year.
11. Odana Hills, Madison, WI. As you can tell, I was able to play a lot of golf on this trip. The course is close in town in Madison and was a very reasonable charge. I was only able to play 9 but will go back for the back 9. Shot 42 in great weather. I have to hand it to the Sconies - when its summer they play a lot outdoors.
12. Golf ATX.org is the website for the Austin city courses. I played 3 and am grouping them together. Lions Municipal is my home course from way back. It is a historic place but alas is set to be bulldozed in 2019. So I wanted Travis to see it before he graduated. He and I played with Clint and Sarah rode in the cart. Great day. And shot 86 - not bad.
Hancock. A ragged old 9 hole muni, barely maintained. Hard to believe it used to the Austin CC from 1899 (or maybe not). But 9 holes was what the day allowed and I was able to play with Travis again with his new clubs for his UT graduation.
Jimmy Clay. The site of my first round of 79 back in 1982. As you can see, I still am looking for those sub 80 rounds. I didn't remember the course as well as I thought, but I did enjoy it a lot. Some holes was been slightly changed over the years due to flood erosion. Played with my good friend Clint again after the UT graduation. A good day and a round of 89.
BONUS:
13. Watters Creek, Plano, TX. 9 holes with my old friend Jeff on the short course 9 holer. Par 30. Playing with old clubs, Jeff playing left handed, just kicking around. A super fun time. And I beat Jeff (never easy). It helped that he was playing left when he is normally right handed :)
Thursday, January 5, 2017
the Zombies of Winnesheik County
While driving through Northeastern Iowa this summer, I stopped at a convenience store in Ossian. The town was very quaint with American Flags flying, but at 4:30 pm on a Wednesday was rather quiet.
I walked into the store as an older man was walking out. There was only 1 car there, a nice Cadillac Escalade, which I assumed was his. Didn't get a chance to talk.
I and the clerk were were the only ones in there. We talked for a quick bit. He was a young white man with a red shirt.
Just then a black man came in. He had parked his big 18 wheeler out front. He was asking for directions to a place even the clerk didn't know. As an outsider in the town, I was already kind of lost. I wondered why a truck would be driving these tiny back roads of Highway 52.
At that point, a middle aged man in overalls came in. The truck driver asked him if he knew the place to go. The middle aged man as he talked, was missing a front tooth and had a strong Upper Midwest/Canada accent. I thought it unusual that no one knew where the truck driver was trying to go.
As I was walking out, I noticed the license plates showing Winnesheik County, Iowa. I asked it that was where we were. He said yes and that he was from Allamakkee County, which is notable for its Effigy burial Mounds of Native American Culture.
Just then a man and woman drove up in a mint condition 80s Mustang. A young boy got out, they exchanged pleasantries, and the boy left with his presumptive father, back to Allamakkee County. Obviously this was a convenient drop off spot.
These were the only people I interacted with in Northeastern Iowa that day.
When I returned my friend Paul who had lived in Iowa before said "There are more Zombies per capita in Winnesheik County in the entire USA"
Could I have encountered a few Zombies that afternoon?
I walked into the store as an older man was walking out. There was only 1 car there, a nice Cadillac Escalade, which I assumed was his. Didn't get a chance to talk.
I and the clerk were were the only ones in there. We talked for a quick bit. He was a young white man with a red shirt.
Just then a black man came in. He had parked his big 18 wheeler out front. He was asking for directions to a place even the clerk didn't know. As an outsider in the town, I was already kind of lost. I wondered why a truck would be driving these tiny back roads of Highway 52.
At that point, a middle aged man in overalls came in. The truck driver asked him if he knew the place to go. The middle aged man as he talked, was missing a front tooth and had a strong Upper Midwest/Canada accent. I thought it unusual that no one knew where the truck driver was trying to go.
As I was walking out, I noticed the license plates showing Winnesheik County, Iowa. I asked it that was where we were. He said yes and that he was from Allamakkee County, which is notable for its Effigy burial Mounds of Native American Culture.
Just then a man and woman drove up in a mint condition 80s Mustang. A young boy got out, they exchanged pleasantries, and the boy left with his presumptive father, back to Allamakkee County. Obviously this was a convenient drop off spot.
These were the only people I interacted with in Northeastern Iowa that day.
When I returned my friend Paul who had lived in Iowa before said "There are more Zombies per capita in Winnesheik County in the entire USA"
Could I have encountered a few Zombies that afternoon?
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