I dreamed that I was playing in a big tournament at the Austin Country Club, home of the Dell World Match Play Championship. It was not that tournament but one equally as big. A course I know well - but this was not that actual course.
I was preparing to tee off for my first shot. I was playing with a competitor who was an aggressive personality. As I was preparing to hit, he told me that I could not use the ball I was preparing to hit. Somewhat flustered, I fished around for a different brand, while arguing. Then he said I was assessed a penalty of loss of the hole. I countered that you couldn't lose a hole in a stroke play format. I was heated up. Not typical.
Then I realized I was set to hit from the wrong hole. So I made everyone go to the next hole over. There was a group there we had to get through. Then the tee area had very little room to swing. As I was finally about ready to hit the first shot, I thought of how difficult it was going to be to hit a good shot under such stressful conditions.
I woke up before I hit that first shot.
Different from another memorable golf dream.
Monday, May 8, 2017
Sunday, May 7, 2017
30 Things that have changed since 1987
In honor of the Class of 1987's 30th reunion, I thought a list of 30 things that had changed was in order. Share with your children - they should get a good laugh.
1. President Ronald Reagan - a former TV and movie actor. Couldn't happen again, could it?
2. 55 mph speed limits on the Interstates
3. Long distance phone charges - up to 50 cents per minute during prime time. We would wait until after 11 p.m. for the lowest rates.
4. Drinking age was 19 for most of our college times. Went up to 21 in 1986 across the nation.
5. Pay telephones were still in common use. 25 cents for a local call. Don't ask: the price of long distance.
6. VCRs were a luxury that few had.
7. Color TVs were 19 or 21 inches diagonal at the most. Your modern desktops and laptops are that big now.
8. Answering machines were actually machines separate from the telephone - wired into the system. Again a luxury that few had.
9. Cordless phones with antennas were still not in use. A long phone cord was very desirable.
10. Paper maps were common in cars.
11. Cassette tapes were the preferred way of listening to music, but vinyl albums were still commonly sold.
12. No one had a desktop computer. But you could use the public desktops computers for word processing in the computer labs.
13. Discount airlines were in their infancy. One short lived example was People Express.
14. Airline tickets were booked by going to a travel agent.
15. Lexington VA got its first McDonald's which was a big deal then.
16. The Palms Cafe was (and still is) a popular spot for lunch, dinner and drinks.
17. There was one Asian restaurant, the Aloha Wok.
18. Stores in Lexingon would commonly open charge accounts and bill the student at the address desired (even your parents in another state).
19. The Confederate Flag was commonly displayed in windows, clothing, stickers.
20. Dorms were not air conditioned nor were nearly all buildings on campus older than World War II. Which was nearly all.
21. The Leyburn Library was state of the art in the 1980s. It was open 24 hours a day.
22. There was a campus pub originally called the Cockpit, which had bands and big parties on Tuesday and Wednesday nights.
23. There was no Wal-Mart - but there was a similar type store (much smaller) called Rose's.
24. A new show premiered called Late Night with David Letterman. Even on very late at 12:30 a.m. it was very desirable to be able to watch and discuss.
25. The Challenger explosion in 1986 was a defining event for the country - as was the Iran/Contra hearings in 1987.
26. Gasoline of course costs about 60 cents a gallon. Busch beer was about $4 or $5 for a 12 pack.
27. Apartment rent for a 2 bedroom apartment was $340/month.
28. Washington and Lee tuition was $7,500 a year. Today is is $49,170. Tuition alone!
29. Washington and Lee had just admitted its first full time female students in Fall 1985. The Class of 1987 had 6 female grads - I hope to see all of them at the reunion.
30. Washington and Lee was ( and still is ) a top-rated, desirable college with proud alumni. Some things never change!
1. President Ronald Reagan - a former TV and movie actor. Couldn't happen again, could it?
2. 55 mph speed limits on the Interstates
3. Long distance phone charges - up to 50 cents per minute during prime time. We would wait until after 11 p.m. for the lowest rates.
4. Drinking age was 19 for most of our college times. Went up to 21 in 1986 across the nation.
5. Pay telephones were still in common use. 25 cents for a local call. Don't ask: the price of long distance.
6. VCRs were a luxury that few had.
7. Color TVs were 19 or 21 inches diagonal at the most. Your modern desktops and laptops are that big now.
8. Answering machines were actually machines separate from the telephone - wired into the system. Again a luxury that few had.
9. Cordless phones with antennas were still not in use. A long phone cord was very desirable.
10. Paper maps were common in cars.
11. Cassette tapes were the preferred way of listening to music, but vinyl albums were still commonly sold.
12. No one had a desktop computer. But you could use the public desktops computers for word processing in the computer labs.
13. Discount airlines were in their infancy. One short lived example was People Express.
14. Airline tickets were booked by going to a travel agent.
15. Lexington VA got its first McDonald's which was a big deal then.
16. The Palms Cafe was (and still is) a popular spot for lunch, dinner and drinks.
17. There was one Asian restaurant, the Aloha Wok.
18. Stores in Lexingon would commonly open charge accounts and bill the student at the address desired (even your parents in another state).
19. The Confederate Flag was commonly displayed in windows, clothing, stickers.
20. Dorms were not air conditioned nor were nearly all buildings on campus older than World War II. Which was nearly all.
21. The Leyburn Library was state of the art in the 1980s. It was open 24 hours a day.
22. There was a campus pub originally called the Cockpit, which had bands and big parties on Tuesday and Wednesday nights.
23. There was no Wal-Mart - but there was a similar type store (much smaller) called Rose's.
24. A new show premiered called Late Night with David Letterman. Even on very late at 12:30 a.m. it was very desirable to be able to watch and discuss.
25. The Challenger explosion in 1986 was a defining event for the country - as was the Iran/Contra hearings in 1987.
26. Gasoline of course costs about 60 cents a gallon. Busch beer was about $4 or $5 for a 12 pack.
27. Apartment rent for a 2 bedroom apartment was $340/month.
28. Washington and Lee tuition was $7,500 a year. Today is is $49,170. Tuition alone!
29. Washington and Lee had just admitted its first full time female students in Fall 1985. The Class of 1987 had 6 female grads - I hope to see all of them at the reunion.
30. Washington and Lee was ( and still is ) a top-rated, desirable college with proud alumni. Some things never change!
A Letter to Me 30 Years Ago
I'm about to go to my 30th college reunion at Washington and Lee University. I'm a little unsure on what I'll see and how I'll remember things - if I remember at all. Thinking back to that time at graduation 30 years ago, I was wondering what I would tell myself then from me now.
I would start by reminding myself that we all have a number of gifts that we carry. Some we know about now, but other gifts have not been fully discovered. I would tell myself to honor those gifts and use them as much as possible. They are what keep you unique.
Some of those gifts are abilities we might take for granted, or those we might be a bit uncomfortable to admit how something like comic book art, or a certain music, or a quirky hobby makes us feel good. I would telll myself not to hold those matters in, but to embrace them as your own, Sometime we are a little ahead of our time. And the world should catch on to what we already knew.
I would tell myself that there will be times in life that are so good, that they won't last. And you'll miss those times and people and feelings. A lot. And they are not coming back. But if you made the most of the time you had, then you won't regret when things come to an end. With each end, there is a corresponding beginning. This will happen over and over.
Speaking of endings, I would certainly tell me that what you learn about "Quitters Never Win" is just not true. When you come head on to problems of people or circumstances that you can't change, then you need to turn in another direction. Don't waste time trying to fix the unfixable. Stay true to what you think is right and just, even when you have to zig or zag a certain way. Keep moving forward.
And of course you want to know what happens next. There is a lot of happiness in store with your marriage, your daughter, your career and your health. There are going to be bumps on the road, and even if I could tell you how it would turn out, you probably wouldn't believe me. But that is just as well. There are a lot of pleasant surprises in store.
I would lastly tell you that we live in a world of great abundance. Be generous with all that has been given to you.. It is not yours to keep. Realize that God will provide everything you need in return, in unexpected packages.
And like Christmas and birthdays, aren't unexpected packages the best gifts of all?
I would start by reminding myself that we all have a number of gifts that we carry. Some we know about now, but other gifts have not been fully discovered. I would tell myself to honor those gifts and use them as much as possible. They are what keep you unique.
Some of those gifts are abilities we might take for granted, or those we might be a bit uncomfortable to admit how something like comic book art, or a certain music, or a quirky hobby makes us feel good. I would telll myself not to hold those matters in, but to embrace them as your own, Sometime we are a little ahead of our time. And the world should catch on to what we already knew.
I would tell myself that there will be times in life that are so good, that they won't last. And you'll miss those times and people and feelings. A lot. And they are not coming back. But if you made the most of the time you had, then you won't regret when things come to an end. With each end, there is a corresponding beginning. This will happen over and over.
Speaking of endings, I would certainly tell me that what you learn about "Quitters Never Win" is just not true. When you come head on to problems of people or circumstances that you can't change, then you need to turn in another direction. Don't waste time trying to fix the unfixable. Stay true to what you think is right and just, even when you have to zig or zag a certain way. Keep moving forward.
And of course you want to know what happens next. There is a lot of happiness in store with your marriage, your daughter, your career and your health. There are going to be bumps on the road, and even if I could tell you how it would turn out, you probably wouldn't believe me. But that is just as well. There are a lot of pleasant surprises in store.
I would lastly tell you that we live in a world of great abundance. Be generous with all that has been given to you.. It is not yours to keep. Realize that God will provide everything you need in return, in unexpected packages.
And like Christmas and birthdays, aren't unexpected packages the best gifts of all?
Friday, April 21, 2017
Mid week dream
I was at a restaurant and looked on the ground and saw many jewels. There were so many that I started picking up as many as I could and filled both my pockets. There were more at the other end of the long table. I asked the woman if the jewels on the ground below her were hers - she started filling up her own pockets.
I didn't know what to do with the jewels. I knew I couldn't sell them, or show them to anyone, but I didn't know who to give them back to or where to store them.
I didn't know what to do with the jewels. I knew I couldn't sell them, or show them to anyone, but I didn't know who to give them back to or where to store them.
Sunday, April 16, 2017
Friday dream
I went to the luxury golf resort at... Rio Grande City, Texas. After we took a wrong turn into it. I was with JRR and ML. We golfed, ate in the restaurant and socialized with the guests, until we were about to get discovered as imposters. We hastily made it to the car and sped away.
Friday, April 14, 2017
Mono
The Mono Story
by Gregory Turley
It was April senior year in the 80s. We had gone "Down the Road" to
Sweet Briar College for some type of mixer/outdoor band. As usual we just showed up. No dates, no tickets, no notice. Hard to
remember who actually went but I expect Grant drove. As he used to say about the 1980 Mustang -
"better than you've got".
I recall that I had been left at Sweet Briar due to my drunkenness earlier that
school year and had to beg a ride back to Lexington the next day. A bad scene and so I didn't want that to
happen again. I was not going to be Left
Behind again.
At the event, the only young woman I connected with was
someone who had previously gone out with my friend Rob. Funny
that I can't remember her name - I'll call her Mary for reasons you will find.
As these college parties went, we had no better prospects
than each other that day which turned into night. The afternoon party turned into the evening
and we started holding hands (cute, eh?) and then went back to her dorm where
there was a "Hall Party" going on.
For those who don't know, the Hall Party was a kind of open
door event where you could wander from room to room. Lots of drinking and smoking, and the beds
were right there. Back in those days there was no dorm security
at all. At those All Woman colleges,
they liked having a stream of men coming to their dorms. There were no proctors, curfews, security
cameras, key cards.
Generally we men either left in a timely
manner or were cordially invited to spend the night.
So it was pretty early that night - 8:30 p.m.? when we
closed the door to her room. After a
fair amount of groping around in the dark, I realized 3 things:
1. I didn't even like
Mary
2. And Mary didn't
like me - in fact she was questioning me about Rob... "Why doesn't Rob
like me?" No good answer for that.
3. The clock was
ticking and I didn't want to get left there again... particularly with
Mary. I was somewhat drunk and so was
she.
There were of course no cell phones then. So I had to excuse myself, as Mary was lying
there in a state of undress. Just like in a movie, she looked at me like,
"You're leaving now? But I
had to get out and find Grant and recover my ride back. I thought I was doing the right thing.
Fortunately I did find him as the Hall Party was going
on. I was determined to stick with him
which I did. And I made it back to
Lexington. I seem to recall Mary coming down
the hall later and upon seeing me still there, giving me a dirty look.
Mary got her revenge on me.
I started feeling bad and went to the college Infirmary (can you believe
that is what we called it then?) It was
in the basement of the oldest dorm on campus and looked straight out of the
1950s. There, the doctor (and he was a
doctor) said that I had both mononucleosis AND strep throat. Being 21 years old, I was out for a day and a
half and then back at it.
I was of course embarrassed at catching these ailments from
Mary - plus the fact that I was supposed to be dating someone else who was gone
for the weekend - so I couldn't tell her how I caught this Kissing Disease -
like she couldn't figure it out herself.
Today, I found out that my cousin who is 15 years old now has mononucleosis and
has to cancel his trip overseas. Hearing
about "Mono" from his mother brought back this college memory.
I can imagine how he feels physically - I've been
there. That was no fun. I hope that if he caught it from someone
that he at least liked her a bit - or knew her for more than 2 hours beforehand.
February 7, 2017
Another Dream
Thursday night: 4/13/2017
I met a new friend, Bill, from England. Bill had written his 2nd book so I was impressed and I was introducing him to people in the USA. We were primarily meeting lawyers.
We ran into my old friend from law school Andy Nolen, who I had not seen in many years. He was no longer a lawyer and he was going by the name "Mike" . I was very happy to see him.
I met a new friend, Bill, from England. Bill had written his 2nd book so I was impressed and I was introducing him to people in the USA. We were primarily meeting lawyers.
We ran into my old friend from law school Andy Nolen, who I had not seen in many years. He was no longer a lawyer and he was going by the name "Mike" . I was very happy to see him.
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