Life Itself

This is a combination of a biopic as well as a reality show about the film critic and writer Roger Ebert, who died this year.  Available On Demand now.  Directed by Steve James of Hoops Dreams fame, which is perfect for a combo of Chicago and reality.

Roger had thyroid cancer and had his lower jaw removed.  In the movie, you can see through his mouth back to the bandages on his neck which cover the hole where he receives his nutrition.  Shocking at first, after the film goes on, you get used to seeing it.  He uses voice recognition and computer writing and blogging to communicate.

As an experienced writer, he takes to the new form like its an old hand, which it really it.  We see his growing up and writing starting at a young age.  We see his film career and the two-edged sword of his TV partnership/professional rivalry with Gene Siskel  Like two brothers who don't like each other.

Very well done as it gives an insight into the personality of Roger Ebert.  It makes you like him and also know some of his faults at the same time.  A very fine tribute to a man who made a great contribution to American society.

* * * *
"Two Thumbs Up!"

Scene of the Crime

While in Dallas this summer visiting my friend Jeff,  I was on the way back to DFW airport and had left a bit early having a full day pretty much free before flying home.  My GPS took me to the rental car center - slowly but surely.  As I turned on Rental Car Drive, there it was, off to the side - Bear Creek Golf Club.  By instinct, I turned in...

I made my way down the bumpy drive, looking around.  Coming into view, I saw a parking lot and clubhouse/golf shop.  It looked 80s-ish.  I tried to remember its look, but I couldn't.  Nothing special from the outside.

Going inside, more of the same.  It looked like a muni pro shop - basic gear for sale.  Rates were posted - very reasonable - $35 or so for a round plus cart.  Not too many people around but it was a Monday.

I struck up a conversation - "Well, sir, we have 2 18's, the West and East.  The East is the more challenging, as you can see from the slope rating"  I looked at the scorecard:  73.4/138 - quite high.

"That's the one" I said to myself.

* * *

It was 1983 when I saw that course for the first time.  It was the American Junior Golf Association Hyatt Bear Creek Junior Tournament at that time.  I drove up from Austin to play my senior year of  high school.  The AJGA was the big junior tournament tour at the time.  I had played in one tournament in Abilene the year before and performed badly under difficult conditions.  But I was a year old and better now.

The course, like the set up before in Abilene, was very tough.  The course was long for its day and there were many trees, traps and water hazards.  The first hole was a par 5 and I must have made a 7 or so on it.  The next hole, the number 1 handicap hole.  It did not get better.  I gutted it out and really tried to do my best.  I was certainly capable of shooting in the 70s or 80s at that time.  But this was not the day.

After a string of bogeys or worse, on the 15th hole, I was down the middle with 140 or so to the green, Finally a chance for a short iron, put it on the green, get it going.  But no.  My ball was in a divot in the middle of the fairway.  No chance - I hit it fat and well short of the green.  That was the highest and lowest point of the day.

I shot some score in the 90s - can't even remember exactly.  It was at the very bottom. Quite humiliating, even though there was no one I knew at the tournament.  To make matters worse, I was staying at this SMU fraternity house with a friend of the family (not even a friend of mine) and had to go back to these people I didn't even know or like and report on my poor performance.

That night I decided that this AJGA tournament wasn't important to me, and that I needed to get back to Austin to clear out my game in time for the Austin high school District 26 5-A Championship which was that following Monday or Tuesday.  So I bailed on the AJGA - just quit - did not show for round 2 - headed back home - the proverbial Trunk Slam.

It must have been just a poorly timed slump.  I struggled on the range on Sunday in Austin, shot 92 again the first day of the District Tournament, but settled in at 83 on day 2 to help the team get second place.  A week or two later at the Regional Tournament, I had 2 of my best rounds under pressure, 80-81 to nearly be low man on the team to Jeff's 83-77.  We had a good senior finish the two of us.  And we're still good friends.  And he can still beat me.  And that's just the way it is.

In hindsight, the competition on the AJGA circuit was nationwide and the players were among the best from many different states, not just Texas.  The courses selected were very difficult.  Both tournaments I traveled to  at age 17 by myself.  I didn't even consider playing a practice round and didn't know what to expect.  There was an expectation that college coaches were watching.  No wonder I did poorly.

Conversely, the District Championship was an "A" Tournament for me, and (looking back) I'm glad I realized that it was more important to me that some Dallas tournament.

* * *

The pro at Bear Creek asked "Would you like to play or maybe hit some balls?  We've got clubs available"  It was hot and I had a flight to catch so I declined and headed out.  No sense in trying change the past.

* * *

 Today, I still enjoy the game and have played many fine courses.  I've met some good friends through the game and believe that I can play with anyone.  I've had instruction from some of the greats of the game.  Some of those friends from the Austin District Championship went on to careers on the PGA Tour.

I've got many more good memories than bad in my golf games.     Living Well is the Best Revenge.

Butterscotch the Cat

Our cat Butterscotch died on Labor Day, September 1, 2014 at the age of 11.  He came to us in 2003 as a second cat to Peppermint (hence the matching name).  Plus his orange tabby coat.

Butterscotch was a very easygoing cat.  As time went on he became quite a large, even fat cat, and weighed easily over 20 lbs.  When he jumped on you, you felt it.  He was a perfect match to an otherwise anxious Peppermint and an overactive Spencer, our dog of 3 years.  Spencer could bite, jump on, hump Butterscotch and Butterscotch would shrug it off.

Since he had a large appetite, Butterscotch would eat several times a day, most memorably at 3 a.m.  He would know to wake me up then.  You could set an alarm by it.  It was always easier to just feed him because he was not going back to sleep or being quiet otherwise.  With weight like he had, you could hear his paws thumping on the door or walls pretty loudly.

Always a healthy cat until the end, Butterscotch rarely had to go to the vet.  He like to be outside and memorably had a "night on the town" when he got out and stayed out all night.  He was back on the patio the next morning, ready for breakfast.

In the end, it was fitting that hunger did him in.  According to the vet, the talented and caring Dr Amanda Roge, he developed cancer or lymphoma which hit his liver and sapped his appetite.  This came on in only a week and caused him to drop significant weight.  He was half his size when he died.   Death came quickly and he died at home which seemed right for an indoor cat.

As Susan said, there's 2 cats in Kitty Heaven waiting for him.

Catcher in the Rye

In my classic book phase, I've been rereading some books from the past.  While I read this one, I didn't recall much to it.  On second reading, it's very advanced.

"I suppose the first thing you want to hear about it my stupid life" starts the famous first line.  This is a cue that he is talking to a psychiatrist and the book continues in this first person,  "I did this, then that" rhythm.  Holden Caulfield has been kicked out of yet another prep school and in a manic fit, leaves to head home before his parents find out about the dismissal.  He's unhappy at the school but generally liked, despite a few peculiarities.  He seems smart so we are not quite sure why he is flunking out.

For a long weekend, he goes to New York City to kill time.  He fills up the time at bars and walking around, generally getting in tiffs with everyone he meets.  He's not so much as unhappy as unwilling to get along with those he contacts.  He's got money to burn so he is strong willed and thinks he can get want he wants by money and charm.  Sometimes he does but often not.

When the money runs out as it always does, he goes home not to see his parents but to see his younger sister Phoebe, who is someone who loves him unconditionally.  Holden knows that and uses it to his advantage.  It provides him with a glimpse of happiness.

Interesting, the Catcher in the Rye relates to a Robert Burns poem.  Children are playing in the rye fields, unaware of the looming cliff of death nearby.  Holden pictures himself catching these children before they fall.

Holden has his demons which are exposed and for which we can sympathize.  There's hope for him but navigating this teenage stages is difficult for anyone.  Published in the 1950s it was and still is very advanced in descriptions of maniac depression, suicide, sexual assault and a general ignorance/willful blindness toward mental illness.

****  - deserving of classic status

Summer 2014 - so far

I was recalling that it has been a really nice summer so far.  Starting it off in Maui was a great thing and there have been other cool places.  We've been to Las Vegas and we are in Austin now.  This trip has been nice in that it has been somewhat relaxing.  Our friend Larry got the Pioneer Award from the Texas Association of Broadcasters and we had a good group here to celebrate.

Then on Friday, I had arranged to play golf.  He couldn't make it so I carried on with a round of golf at the UT Golf Club.  I played with Oscar and he liked it a lot.  We had a forecaddy who was named Andrew.  He was a good guide for us.  Oscar had to leave after 9 holes but Andrew and I carried on and the second nine was even better.

The trip last week to Dallas and then Shreveport was a good one as well.  It was nice to see Jeff and Brittany as well as Joe and Sandy and Richard  and Lisa.  We had a lot of fun with the River Cities Triathlon, enjoyed spending time together.  I also got to see my friends Erich and Karola and  their new house in Celina, TX

Dallas 2014

In what has become an annual trip, I was in Dallas this past Friday - Monday visiting my friend Jeff.  We've known each other since age 14 but it's been these trips where we spend a few days together that really cement things.  I stay at his home, he takes a little time off work and other responsibilities - it's a special time.

We did the River Cities Triathlon in Shreveport, actually in the Cypress Black Bayou Park. If that sounds very Louisiana, then you're right, it is.  I finished this year in 2:00 which was good on a borrowed bike.  Sure beat the driving up from last year.  Flying was a good way to go.

We stayed at our friend Joe's house.  He had a full house - his family (3) plus Jeff, Greg, Heidi, Richard and Lisa.  Plus 2 dogs, Shakey and Findley.  We had a nice cookout after the race - eating at home is always a good way to go.  We had to stop for pie - Richards' choice and it was very Southern Living.  Ed would have like it a lot.

Dinner Sunday night was at the Outback.  I lived large with steak, shrimp, mac & cheese, chopped salad and topped it off with cake at home from the bridal shower that Brittany gave while we were gone.

Today Jeff and I had lunch with his mom. Always fun to see her and him.  Great 4 days.  Now, back home for a bit and then we go to Austin for Larry's award banquet.  Should be great.

Pete Rose now

As a kid, the Pete Rose card in the 70s was the Golden Ticket.  I never saw one, but he was the icon of baseball players then.

Funny how things end up.