It's expected to be 101 F today so that means that I am home for the afternoon. I think I will watch an old movie. So far I did get my walk in today before it got super hot and I have listed some items on eBay. Now I just have to be patient until the emails showing PayPal payments come in.
I will be going to Houston later this week so I will be looking forward to being able to travel, see family and not have to be in recovery the whole time. No big plans just enjoying life.
Saturday, August 10, 2019
Sunday, July 21, 2019
A Hard Game
In good news today, Shane Lowry of Ireland won the British Open golf tournament. Congrats to that career-making win, as well as some home islands Euro bragging rights.
Otherwise, it was quite a shock to see the scores of J.B. Holmes, 66-68-69 and then ..87. Now it was pressure filled, it was cold and raining, but to see a longtime successful pro (# 53 in the World) have such a huge change makes you wonder. Same course, same player?
But when things unravel, you are not the same player.
Earlier this week Rory McIroy (#3 in the World) missed the cut after shooting 79, then 65. Just goes to show that anything can happen on a given day.
And these are the best in the world!
Otherwise, it was quite a shock to see the scores of J.B. Holmes, 66-68-69 and then ..87. Now it was pressure filled, it was cold and raining, but to see a longtime successful pro (# 53 in the World) have such a huge change makes you wonder. Same course, same player?
But when things unravel, you are not the same player.
Earlier this week Rory McIroy (#3 in the World) missed the cut after shooting 79, then 65. Just goes to show that anything can happen on a given day.
And these are the best in the world!
Monday, July 15, 2019
Billy Bob's Texas
On my birthday, May 11, I got to check an item off my Bucket List: Go to Billy Bob's in Fort Worth.
Billed as the World's Largest Honky-Tonk, it's a place of legends. Lots of live music albums recorded there. Everyone who is anyone has played there in country music. Even George Strait said he was on the way back to San Marcos from Billy Bob's in the early 80s when he first heard the song that he would make his signature: Amarillo by Morning (my vote for greatest country song).
So it was a nice birthday present to go. It's a commercial affair at heart, Enter and Exit through the Gift Shop. Bars selling longneck beers everywhere you turn. It's a long walk to the stage since it is the World's Largest.
Interestingly, the floor seats are down a step or two so the stage area is sunken below the standing room seats by the bars. Sarah did a good job in getting the reserved seats.
Clay Walker who rose to prominence in the 90s did a nice job playing some old favorites. Some of them were deep cuts that brought back memories: White Castle, Before she was Mama, White Palace. And the hits: What's It to You, Then What, Who Needs You Baby? And some nice covers of George Strait, the Chair and Chris Ledoux, Cadillac Ranch.
Glad I went when I did!
Billed as the World's Largest Honky-Tonk, it's a place of legends. Lots of live music albums recorded there. Everyone who is anyone has played there in country music. Even George Strait said he was on the way back to San Marcos from Billy Bob's in the early 80s when he first heard the song that he would make his signature: Amarillo by Morning (my vote for greatest country song).
So it was a nice birthday present to go. It's a commercial affair at heart, Enter and Exit through the Gift Shop. Bars selling longneck beers everywhere you turn. It's a long walk to the stage since it is the World's Largest.
Interestingly, the floor seats are down a step or two so the stage area is sunken below the standing room seats by the bars. Sarah did a good job in getting the reserved seats.
Clay Walker who rose to prominence in the 90s did a nice job playing some old favorites. Some of them were deep cuts that brought back memories: White Castle, Before she was Mama, White Palace. And the hits: What's It to You, Then What, Who Needs You Baby? And some nice covers of George Strait, the Chair and Chris Ledoux, Cadillac Ranch.
Glad I went when I did!
Sunday, July 7, 2019
7/7 Day
Always a good thing when the numbers match for a date. I recall going to a memorable wedding on 7/7/07. Hard to believe that one was 12 years ago. As my friends remind me, "we're getting old."
Speaking of old, my recovery from open heart surgery continues to get a little better 1 day at a time. Yesterday, I had some unusual tingling "pain" (not bad) but strange sypathetic feelings nonetheless. I'm set to go visit the cardiac surgeon on Wednesday so hopefully I'll get some clearance to do more activity. Or maybe he'll tell me to take it easy another 2 weeks. We'll see.
I am sneaking a few drives in here and there. I feel like when I was 15 years old and would sneak the family car out on Friday nights when my parents would go out. I would mainly drive around the neighborhoods and tried not to let anyone see me. Good practice was my thinking. Usually I'd stop the car and practice a burnout. Of course, since it was a family car, there was not much tire spinning and rubber burning but at least I gave it a shot.
Ah the 80s in Austin, TX. Those were simpler time all around. Not better, by any stretch, but simpler. I don't want to go back that's for sure. But it is fun to remember when.
Speaking of old, my recovery from open heart surgery continues to get a little better 1 day at a time. Yesterday, I had some unusual tingling "pain" (not bad) but strange sypathetic feelings nonetheless. I'm set to go visit the cardiac surgeon on Wednesday so hopefully I'll get some clearance to do more activity. Or maybe he'll tell me to take it easy another 2 weeks. We'll see.
I am sneaking a few drives in here and there. I feel like when I was 15 years old and would sneak the family car out on Friday nights when my parents would go out. I would mainly drive around the neighborhoods and tried not to let anyone see me. Good practice was my thinking. Usually I'd stop the car and practice a burnout. Of course, since it was a family car, there was not much tire spinning and rubber burning but at least I gave it a shot.
Ah the 80s in Austin, TX. Those were simpler time all around. Not better, by any stretch, but simpler. I don't want to go back that's for sure. But it is fun to remember when.
Sunday, June 9, 2019
Those we look up to
Sad news that I found out that my first "The Skipper" John Valentine died last year, January 2018.
His obituary tells some basic info:
https://www.mcnuttfuneralhome.com/obituaries/obituary-listings?obId=2876469#/obituaryInfo
I have a longer and fuller story to share about this fine man, who I was lucky to have as a friend and client for a number of years. He was one of the first people I met when I went on my own as a lawyer in 1996. He must have seen something in me, as I did in him.
He was a decorated war hero from the Vietnam War. He made and lost a fortune several times over. He had a way of telling you the coolest stories without making you think he was bragging or puffing. He was a polo player, he did business all over the world, he had a chateau in Bordeax, France. In that way he inspired me to live more authentically.
I also thought of him as the original Most Interesting Man in the World. In that respect I was lucky to have known him. I think that it probably the highest compliment that anyone could give.
His obituary tells some basic info:
https://www.mcnuttfuneralhome.com/obituaries/obituary-listings?obId=2876469#/obituaryInfo
I have a longer and fuller story to share about this fine man, who I was lucky to have as a friend and client for a number of years. He was one of the first people I met when I went on my own as a lawyer in 1996. He must have seen something in me, as I did in him.
He was a decorated war hero from the Vietnam War. He made and lost a fortune several times over. He had a way of telling you the coolest stories without making you think he was bragging or puffing. He was a polo player, he did business all over the world, he had a chateau in Bordeax, France. In that way he inspired me to live more authentically.
I also thought of him as the original Most Interesting Man in the World. In that respect I was lucky to have known him. I think that it probably the highest compliment that anyone could give.
F-----n' Jetta
Way back in the 80s I was riding around in a car driven by my friend Dave. It was an early 80s Buick, along the lines of a K car, a low point in automotive transport. But it did get us from A to B, which was more than me and my girlfriend of the time had together.
So we were riding down the road and she was dreaming of when we all had good cars. "Dave, you'll drive a Porsche. I'll have a BMW. And Greg... you'll have a Volkswagen Jetta."
"A Jetta?!" That boxy little econocar, a 4 door bore, 1.8 liter engine? We're dreaming out loud and that's what you come up with? I was quite insulted.
My dream car at the time was a Saab Turbo, black. My friend Robert said he had one in the 80s and I thought, "that's about right". He was a very cool person all his life. Gone too soon actually.
Right now I'm not driving at all. When I get back to it, I'll have my Lexus ES 350 (much better). My previous cars all blow away the VW Jetta: BMW, Mercedes, Chevrolet Z71 Tahoe. And I've driven the best: Ferrari, Tesla, Corvette ZR-1, Shelby.
So now when I see a Jetta, I can't help but look down at it. To make matters worse, the nameplate refuses to go away, having been in regular production from 1979 over 7 generations and selling over 14 million units, become VW's top seller. But it still is no good in my book.
*Postscript* Upon further reflection, I decided that the reason I disliked the Jetta so much then was that it probably would have been a great car for me at that time. For I had no car at that point and no prospects for getting. Had I had one of my own, I could done a lot with a VW Rabbit (a popular car at the time). In fact the Rabbit GTI was quite a hot rod for its day. My sister had a VW Fox later on, and that was a cool little car.
I guess I could not swallow my pride when I really wanted that Saab Turbo! As a result, the years 1986 to 1989 were a car-less time. Oh yes, I did have some car access but it was in the nature of a borrowed or parent's car.
Of course, back then, there were not as many cars around. But still, looking back, I wish I would have done more to have my own set of wheels. No telling how things might have turned out different. Maybe I saved myself for something better.
So we were riding down the road and she was dreaming of when we all had good cars. "Dave, you'll drive a Porsche. I'll have a BMW. And Greg... you'll have a Volkswagen Jetta."
"A Jetta?!" That boxy little econocar, a 4 door bore, 1.8 liter engine? We're dreaming out loud and that's what you come up with? I was quite insulted.
My dream car at the time was a Saab Turbo, black. My friend Robert said he had one in the 80s and I thought, "that's about right". He was a very cool person all his life. Gone too soon actually.
Right now I'm not driving at all. When I get back to it, I'll have my Lexus ES 350 (much better). My previous cars all blow away the VW Jetta: BMW, Mercedes, Chevrolet Z71 Tahoe. And I've driven the best: Ferrari, Tesla, Corvette ZR-1, Shelby.
So now when I see a Jetta, I can't help but look down at it. To make matters worse, the nameplate refuses to go away, having been in regular production from 1979 over 7 generations and selling over 14 million units, become VW's top seller. But it still is no good in my book.
*Postscript* Upon further reflection, I decided that the reason I disliked the Jetta so much then was that it probably would have been a great car for me at that time. For I had no car at that point and no prospects for getting. Had I had one of my own, I could done a lot with a VW Rabbit (a popular car at the time). In fact the Rabbit GTI was quite a hot rod for its day. My sister had a VW Fox later on, and that was a cool little car.
I guess I could not swallow my pride when I really wanted that Saab Turbo! As a result, the years 1986 to 1989 were a car-less time. Oh yes, I did have some car access but it was in the nature of a borrowed or parent's car.
Of course, back then, there were not as many cars around. But still, looking back, I wish I would have done more to have my own set of wheels. No telling how things might have turned out different. Maybe I saved myself for something better.
Saturday, May 4, 2019
Harlingen Country Club
Back in 2003, I played in a tournament at Harlingen Country Club with the late Jack Wilson. I made an eagle on a par 4 and saved the ball with the info written on it. Little did I know it would be my last eagle made since.
I had the opportunity to go back and while I did not make another eagle, I enjoyed playing this "new" (to me) course. I did not recognize the same hole: memory had failed me. I liked the course as a 50s style Texas course like the old Austin Country Club on Riverside where I played a lot growing up in Austin. There were a lot of houses around in the midcentury style, very low and flat. The area reminded me of another course in the area from the same time Rancho Viejo, also a small incorporated town with a golf course in the middle of it.
Some time ago, I tried to play a number of other local courses. This one should add to the list. I need to get serious about that goals and some that come to mind are:
Ebony Hills - Edinburg
Tierra Del Sol - Pharr
Seven Oaks - Mission
So there are 3 to get after this summer.
I had the opportunity to go back and while I did not make another eagle, I enjoyed playing this "new" (to me) course. I did not recognize the same hole: memory had failed me. I liked the course as a 50s style Texas course like the old Austin Country Club on Riverside where I played a lot growing up in Austin. There were a lot of houses around in the midcentury style, very low and flat. The area reminded me of another course in the area from the same time Rancho Viejo, also a small incorporated town with a golf course in the middle of it.
Some time ago, I tried to play a number of other local courses. This one should add to the list. I need to get serious about that goals and some that come to mind are:
Ebony Hills - Edinburg
Tierra Del Sol - Pharr
Seven Oaks - Mission
So there are 3 to get after this summer.
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