It is actually July 24 and the month is clipping by. Amazing how things will go even staying home and taking it easy on the weekends. But with a little late sleeping on Saturday and church on Sunday, and of course the nap time, and cooking dinner, the days will go fast.
So I pretty much described my weekend. My friends Rich and Mary lived it up in Austin this weekend. I got tired just looking at their Facebook pictures!
I did get my new Amazon Fire Stick installed on the TV - all by myself - I was pretty proud. It looks like it will interface great with all Amazon features so that will be worth using it just for that.
Movies kind of stunk this weekend so I will wait for Bad Moms next Friday.
Have a great week!
Sunday, July 24, 2016
Monday, June 20, 2016
Surgery today
JoAnn had surgery today and it was my first experience with that. After I dropped her off, I hung around the hospital until it was clear to go outside. There, I met Homer who was waiting for his mother there. He was about the same age as me and we had a long talk about mothers, and life and it was good to have someone to share some important thoughts with.
Then I ran into Sammie who was waiting in her car for her friend who lived in the same park resort. She was part of the Choctaw Nation so that license plate caught my attention. She said her friend had no family here so she was with her friend for support.
Both Homer and Sammie were outside smoking because there is no smoking inside anymore. I was glad to make their acquaintance and have someone to discuss these matters with. We're all in this together.
Then I ran into Sammie who was waiting in her car for her friend who lived in the same park resort. She was part of the Choctaw Nation so that license plate caught my attention. She said her friend had no family here so she was with her friend for support.
Both Homer and Sammie were outside smoking because there is no smoking inside anymore. I was glad to make their acquaintance and have someone to discuss these matters with. We're all in this together.
Sunday, June 19, 2016
Golf in Austin and San Antonio
In keeping with our tradition, my father Ed and I met for a trip for 2 rounds of golf this past week. I was pleased to make the first leg arranged, with a round at our old club Austin Country Club, now famous for the Dell World Match Play Championship. It was cool to watch on TV and made me want to go back. So last Wednesday we did.
The course has held up well over 30 years and the recent renovation courtesy of the PGA Tour helped a lot. The greens were as good as I've seen, like at Sand Hills where if you just miss a bit that you've got a tough chip. And no easy putts. I played from the Riverside tees, 6,200 yards and that was plenty.
Ed remembered how he was playing with Davis Love, Jr. and his son Mark Love in 1985 or so when I came out and played the last 3 holes and hit a lot of good shots. I had forgotten but I remembered along with him. That was unexpected. And then to live it again, I crushed a drive on 18, over the bunker, down the hill and in front of the hazard. Just had a partial wedge in. I felt like a pro. We measured the drive at 330 yards. Downhill, downwind, didn't matter, it was still huge.
Our host John was a lot of fun and he walked all 18 holes in the heat. After we finished, we drove the long way to San Antonio through Dripping Springs and Blanco. With the sun going down, it was a great Hill Country drive. We had dinner at the Oak Springs Cafe in Dripping Springs, and it was a real Texas cafe. Complete with peach cobbler.
Thursday we continued the historic Texas golf tour at Brackenridge Park, one of our favorites. We had Dad's good friend Jim there and he was charming as usual. We also played with a nice guy Josh who rode around on a skateboard type golf cart. He was very athletic so he made it look easy.
The last time I played Brackenridge I had a great round, so I had something to live up to. I played hard again, but made double bogey on 13, 14 and 16. On 13 I hit a great drive and then my second shot over the green out of bounds on the par 5. But the drive was 300+ yards again. I bounced back with birdie on 15, and gutsy pars on 17 and 18 for an 80, my best round of this year (so far).
Thursday night we had a nice dinner at Paesano's and then watched the NBA Finals game 6 (Cleveland won) and then I fly home Friday. Not a bad couple of days off.
It was nice to be together during this Fathers' Day week. Ed said he was glad he had introduced me and Elizabeth to the game. I was glad he got to see and remember some good shots by me.
The course has held up well over 30 years and the recent renovation courtesy of the PGA Tour helped a lot. The greens were as good as I've seen, like at Sand Hills where if you just miss a bit that you've got a tough chip. And no easy putts. I played from the Riverside tees, 6,200 yards and that was plenty.
Ed remembered how he was playing with Davis Love, Jr. and his son Mark Love in 1985 or so when I came out and played the last 3 holes and hit a lot of good shots. I had forgotten but I remembered along with him. That was unexpected. And then to live it again, I crushed a drive on 18, over the bunker, down the hill and in front of the hazard. Just had a partial wedge in. I felt like a pro. We measured the drive at 330 yards. Downhill, downwind, didn't matter, it was still huge.
Our host John was a lot of fun and he walked all 18 holes in the heat. After we finished, we drove the long way to San Antonio through Dripping Springs and Blanco. With the sun going down, it was a great Hill Country drive. We had dinner at the Oak Springs Cafe in Dripping Springs, and it was a real Texas cafe. Complete with peach cobbler.
Thursday we continued the historic Texas golf tour at Brackenridge Park, one of our favorites. We had Dad's good friend Jim there and he was charming as usual. We also played with a nice guy Josh who rode around on a skateboard type golf cart. He was very athletic so he made it look easy.
The last time I played Brackenridge I had a great round, so I had something to live up to. I played hard again, but made double bogey on 13, 14 and 16. On 13 I hit a great drive and then my second shot over the green out of bounds on the par 5. But the drive was 300+ yards again. I bounced back with birdie on 15, and gutsy pars on 17 and 18 for an 80, my best round of this year (so far).
Thursday night we had a nice dinner at Paesano's and then watched the NBA Finals game 6 (Cleveland won) and then I fly home Friday. Not a bad couple of days off.
It was nice to be together during this Fathers' Day week. Ed said he was glad he had introduced me and Elizabeth to the game. I was glad he got to see and remember some good shots by me.
Tuesday, June 7, 2016
Back from vacation * Bag still on vacation
As a postscript to our nice Florida vacation, when we returned late to Harlingen, my bag did not come out just as I got an announcement, "Passenger Gregory Turley..." I learned that my bag had gone to Midland, TX. Glad I had my car keys! So Southwest Air arranged to deliver it to me the next day.
That next day, I was waiting. They had already called saying it would be here in the afternoon. About 5 while I was wondering whether to wait longer, I got another call - now my bag had gone to LaGuardia airport in New York.
My bag has wanderlust - doesn't want to come back.
When it does get back, I plan to retire it and get a new one. It's been a long journey for that Tumi. It's been to Europe, South America, the Caribbean, all over the USA, Mexico, Canada. Time for rest.
That next day, I was waiting. They had already called saying it would be here in the afternoon. About 5 while I was wondering whether to wait longer, I got another call - now my bag had gone to LaGuardia airport in New York.
My bag has wanderlust - doesn't want to come back.
When it does get back, I plan to retire it and get a new one. It's been a long journey for that Tumi. It's been to Europe, South America, the Caribbean, all over the USA, Mexico, Canada. Time for rest.
Monday, May 30, 2016
Making Amends in Austin
Step 9 of the the 12 Steps involves Making Amends. When I was in Austin recently I recalled some past problems/embarrassments/unfinished business. I had the sense that now was the time to make things right in whatever way that was available.
Dinner was Friday night at Pelon's, which as old Austinites will remember, Jaime's Spanish Village, on Red River. In 1984 or so, a group of us went there for dinner. As we had just turned 19, the legal drinking age, we proceeded to order a round of beer and margaritas. The waiter, seeing us as barely legal, asked for ID. We grudgingly gave it to him, even thought we had it.
After he left one of the table said "No tip for you!" Since the die was cast, we all agreed at the end to pay the $75.00 bill and we left a quarter on the table for a gratutuious... snub. As we were leaving, the angry waiter chased us out and threw the quarter at us, saying "Here, you left this on the table!"
This time the service was truly bad and our food was late. The manager did comp the $160.00 bill. But I insisted myself on paying the 25% tip to our waiter. I hope that might have made amends to any servers I have stiffed.
On Sunday, I visited the grave of my uncle Vernon. As I was leaving I called my aunt Sharon who was married to him for 25 years. I had lost touch with her after their bitter divorce and splitting of the family along such lines. But when I had seen my cousin Deborah recently, I got Sharon's number.
Even thought I had not talked to her in years, we picked right back up and planned to get together to visit the next time. I felt that I had taken some action to recharge that relationship. I hope that might make amends to any relative or friend that I have forgotten about.
On Monday, I played golf at Jimmy Clay. One of the last times I remember being there was 1983 in the High School District Championship. A front of rain blew in and I was unprepared, wearing only short and a shirt. I was cold and wet and it affected the game.
On this new day, the weather was threatening to be the same. I was unprepared again. This time, I thought, I must do something different and went inside to buy a jacket, whether I needed it or not, I was going to have it this time. I wore it the first 9 holes and it kept be warm and dry. I hope that might make amends for other times I was unprepared for the weather.
Taking all of these at face value, you could say that I was just doing the right thing. But in my mind, it was the past flashing back where I might not have known enough to do good. Those memories were in mind as I was able to proceed in what today I was confident was a better way.
Dinner was Friday night at Pelon's, which as old Austinites will remember, Jaime's Spanish Village, on Red River. In 1984 or so, a group of us went there for dinner. As we had just turned 19, the legal drinking age, we proceeded to order a round of beer and margaritas. The waiter, seeing us as barely legal, asked for ID. We grudgingly gave it to him, even thought we had it.
After he left one of the table said "No tip for you!" Since the die was cast, we all agreed at the end to pay the $75.00 bill and we left a quarter on the table for a gratutuious... snub. As we were leaving, the angry waiter chased us out and threw the quarter at us, saying "Here, you left this on the table!"
This time the service was truly bad and our food was late. The manager did comp the $160.00 bill. But I insisted myself on paying the 25% tip to our waiter. I hope that might have made amends to any servers I have stiffed.
On Sunday, I visited the grave of my uncle Vernon. As I was leaving I called my aunt Sharon who was married to him for 25 years. I had lost touch with her after their bitter divorce and splitting of the family along such lines. But when I had seen my cousin Deborah recently, I got Sharon's number.
Even thought I had not talked to her in years, we picked right back up and planned to get together to visit the next time. I felt that I had taken some action to recharge that relationship. I hope that might make amends to any relative or friend that I have forgotten about.
On Monday, I played golf at Jimmy Clay. One of the last times I remember being there was 1983 in the High School District Championship. A front of rain blew in and I was unprepared, wearing only short and a shirt. I was cold and wet and it affected the game.
On this new day, the weather was threatening to be the same. I was unprepared again. This time, I thought, I must do something different and went inside to buy a jacket, whether I needed it or not, I was going to have it this time. I wore it the first 9 holes and it kept be warm and dry. I hope that might make amends for other times I was unprepared for the weather.
Taking all of these at face value, you could say that I was just doing the right thing. But in my mind, it was the past flashing back where I might not have known enough to do good. Those memories were in mind as I was able to proceed in what today I was confident was a better way.
Wednesday, May 18, 2016
Coming up on May 20
It's late at night, the NBA playoffs are on, and it seems that there is not enough time to get ready. On the eve of Sarah's graduation, its like 1994 all over again when she was born. The same feelings of getting ready, not enough preparation, and it's here already. Very strong sense of having been here before.
Who could have predicted all of the things that have happened since that Thursday night/Friday morning? Not me. Happy 22nd birthday Sarah. You've brought Mom and me much joy and we look forward to the future with you.
Who could have predicted all of the things that have happened since that Thursday night/Friday morning? Not me. Happy 22nd birthday Sarah. You've brought Mom and me much joy and we look forward to the future with you.
Sunday, April 17, 2016
Uplifting
While talking about my new book Hideaway, I was asked "What's next?" I replied that I wanted to write a book about a woman having a midlife crisis. This wisecracking man said sarcastically "That sounds uplifting." His wife seemed interested however.
It got me thinking, I guess I am more interested in writing on the struggles without an easy answer. But I did think that my blog here does have a lot of uplifting stories, my favorite of course being "We'll Always Have Paris" but also good stories of skinny dipping at Tarry House, Christmas Lights, Another Successful Recommendation, and so on.
Do I need to lighten up?
It got me thinking, I guess I am more interested in writing on the struggles without an easy answer. But I did think that my blog here does have a lot of uplifting stories, my favorite of course being "We'll Always Have Paris" but also good stories of skinny dipping at Tarry House, Christmas Lights, Another Successful Recommendation, and so on.
Do I need to lighten up?
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