It's been awhile

I been busy . . . Or, how about, I was doing other stuff . . . How's this, "something suddenly came up" (Brady Bunch reference).

Okay, I love to blog but haven't since the 22nd of June (a little tiny bit over a month). Between that last missive and this, there was a very fun birthday celebration for my beloved mother-in-law out west. All her family was there and we had a great time.

Said beloved mother-in-law was the life of the party. She kept us hopping from sun up to sun down and we had so much fun every day that we didn't even get to Rack Rummy (Rumm-E-O is the official product's name, in case you were wondering and wanted to find it via google).

Along with a host of other activities (boating, cooking/grilling, hiking, historical site seeing), we also went white water rafting. It was fun and I think we had the best boat (with the best people in it and the best guide).

In other news, my wrist is better and I am playing golf again. And, I'm seeing progress in quite a few areas of my game, which has led to some recent scores I have been happy with, which possibly bodes well for a tournament I play in each year (note that I am not ever, not even once, saying that things are "great", because the golf gods do not take lightly any person who possibly intimates they are conquering or dominating the sport - seriously, you have to be really careful). I had fun in league tonight too. And, I made a birdie, which in the skins competition would normally mean that I won some money (which actually did happen last week - half of which said money went to the quenching of my fellow league members' thirst), except that tonight, a fellow golfer birdied the same hole and cancelled out the birdie. There were two other holes where two league golfers birdied, cancelling out each other. So, the skins money carries over to next week. I hope to play well enough next week to make another birdie and win DOUBLE the skins (wish me luck - perhaps I could pay you a bit of the winnings if you really did wish me luck . . .).

Our tomato garden has been growing and producing cherry tomatoes at an ever increasing rate(pictures forthcoming, I promise). Sadly, these tomatoes were not ready when my youngest daughter came for a week's visit. And, sadly, I don't think there is an economical way to send her a large quantity of these fresh pop-in-your-mouth treats. I surely would if I could.

AND, I am the happy new owner of a brand spanking new, iPhone of the new variety. It was a gift from my wife and girls (they thought I should join the 20th, oops, 21st century). I have been working on my thumb flexibility and dexterity. I'll admit, I'm not fast, but I get the job done. The phone is fun and keeps me in contact with the WOML (women of my life - to whit, the aforementioned wife and two girls). I can call, I can text, I can e-mail. I'm working on creating ringtones from my favorite music. So far so good but I'm not finished.

En fin, I'll be back sooner than the last time.

Have a good one. KipK

Happy Father's Day to Me

Yesterday, I was well taken care of on Father's Day.



Multiple cards arrived

multiple phone calls were received, multiple blogs were posted,



all with the goal of wishing me a Happy Father's Day


(they worked by the way - I was a happy father, all day - actually, I've been a happy father for a long, long time).



AND, I did about 10 minutes of grillin' and enjoyed a very tasty steak, potatoes, green beans and salad, accompanied by some of my favorite liquid refreshment, pink lemonade (which, amazingly, looked just like the picture/pitcher below).

I also, mighta had a Popsicle to top it all off, I can't remember (I think I might have another one tonight).

To the Women Of My Life, I say: Thank you for your love (tried to find a really macho heart but was not successful).

To all the good fathers and dads out there I say, love your wife and children. I hope your Father's Day was as good as mine.

KipK

G - double O - D - E - Y - E

There are basically three kind of "eye" days for me now that I am an experienced, savvy contact wearer.

The first kind of "eye" day is one without contacts. There is absolutely no hassle getting the little miracles in because they stay, hydrated, calm and peaceful in their cases. The slight downside to a no contact day is, of course, glasses for various types of eye work must be worn (reading glasses, far away or close in glasses, magnifying glasses, whatever).


The second kind of "eye" day is the not so perfect fit or feel contact day. In this instance, the contacts are put in with or without some trials (but the trials are independent of the way the eye and contact battle through the day). Once the contact are in, the unknown source of irritation begins, sometimes causing the wearer (moi, just in case you were wondering) some increased amount of blinking, eye rubbing (which may cause more irritation, not sure), use of eye solution (of course, no eye drops, which react badly with contacts - a little antithetical if you ask me) and some times a trip to take the consarned (actual word) things out and try to put them in better or in a more comfortable state (which almost never works, at least for me). Sometimes, as the day wears on, the nerves in the eye (if there are any) give up, decide to give the contact wearer (again, me) a break and stop firing their pain signals to the brain. This break can be anywhere from an hour after getting to work in the morning to right as I am about to go to bed (ah, perfect feel, now, I need to take them out). Of course, this kind of a contact day is not the end of the world, just as having sand in your eye is not the end of the world. Still, there are more enjoyable things than sand in your eye (I'm just sayin').

The third and best kind of a contact day is when the contacts, once applied, become one with your eye and you see clearly, with no watering, no pain, no . . . basically, you forget you are wearing them, until you go to bed and think "I should really take my contacts out". I had one of those days today (and, really, yesterday). They make the hard, pioneer like suffering days a lot easier to get through, because there is always hope that tomorrow, everything will be perfect.


Have a good one, KipK

Totally Desolated

The quote in the title comes from Little Women (the movie - don't know about the book) and describes the way I felt yesterday after injuring my left wrist, not being able to play in golf league, going to the doctor (a big plus that I was seen), getting x-rays and then having the doctor tell me that I had torn a ligament and would be out for 4 - 6 weeks while the ligament fully healed.

Of course, there are worse things in life. And, of course, there are millions (billions) of people who have a LOT more important/significant problems than my poor ligament and my poor self now that I will not be able to play any golf (or racket sports . . .) for the next little while. Yeah, I get that my little injury is not as bad as the majority of bad things in the world that could happen. Still, it kind of stinks and is no fun.

In related news, two days ago, I had the chance to teach the Young Men (12 - 18 years of age) a little bit about the game of golf. I showed them the fundamentals of grip, stance and swing and then watched them hit a lot of golf balls on the range, with increasing success as they became more adept. After the range, we did a little bit of putting and I had three putting contests, which they enjoyed, the winners getting a soda as their prize. It was a fun night and I really enjoyed teaching them and then watching them improve in leaps and bounds. Next Wednesday, they plan on playing a game at the local executive course, scramble format. This past Wednesday evening, I told them that I would play them and put my score against their scramble score and would buy them a soda (each) if they came out on top. Now, with the wrist thing, I will not be able to play and that is a bit of a disappointment.

Thinking about the current 4-6 week forced hiatus, I wonder aloud if there was/is a reason for the injury. Is there something I need to be doing in the next few weeks that I wouldn't be able to do if I were practicing and playing golf? If I find out that there is a reason and what that reason is, I'll let you know.

Back to the desolation, er, devastation, I came home, a bit in shock, I suppose. I told my lovely wife what had happened and she was very caring and also sent the news to our girls and her sister and mother. Everyone responded with empathy (her sister and mother have both had injuries that have stopped them from doing something they wanted to be doing). Her sister called and asked me all about it - a very thoughtful gesture.

Thinking about it, I guess the most shaking part about this was the fleeting but powerful thoughts that I had really done something permanent and the question of would I be able to play again (I know, a bit fatalistic, but sometimes that's where thoughts go). In reality, the loss of playing in league is probably the most impactful to me. I really enjoy playing the game with guys that also enjoy the game and who are good guys who care about and have fun with their fellow man. My wife had a good idea and suggested that I go to the clubhouse and be there when they finish each week - which I think I might do.

The actual injury happened while I was on the range, before league last night. I was hitting wedges and doing very well. I had also been hitting a 3 iron (also very well). On the swing that produced the injury, I set up well, had a good back swing and down swing. The ball was sitting up a bit and when I came through, the club head seemed to go a bit too fast and out of control and I felt a sharp pain in my left wrist. I thought that maybe I had just tweaked it because of an awkward swing and hit a few more shots, including my driver (pain was there and didn't change much - which is to say, it hurt). I thought, however, that I might be able to play so I went to the first tee. My first swing was not so bad but I didn't roll my hands over (the ball was a block to the right). My second tee shot hurt a LOT and at this point, I started thinking that I should stop. But, I reasoned, if I swung a bit easier, perhaps the pain would not be so severe. So, I finished the second hole and went to the third tee. I teed up the ball, got set to hit the driver and then remembered the pain I had with the last tee shot. I decided to stop and get to the doctor.

A saga, I know, and fairly insignificant in global terms but, that's what's going on. I hope your day and your week have been much better. Have a good one. KipK

birthday day

Today is my birthday.

I am over abundantly blessed with a lovely wife, two lovely daughters, great in-laws, gainful employment, a healthy body and mind and a bunch of other wonderful blessings.

Despite some last minute changes, my birthday was a good one, one that I really enjoyed. The first of my original plans that changed was a game of golf at a nearby course. Due to the accurately predicted, very windy (24+ mph constantly gusting) weather, I postponed the golf game for a later, more settled day and instead had breakfast with the aforementioned lovely wife. Then, while my wife was at the hair salon, I went the library and found a couple of new books that look interesting (and looked into a non-related subject I wanted to know more about). When I finished at the library, it was still gusting and blowing, so I came home to cut, trim and edge the lawn as well as trimming a couple of bushes (while doing the cutting, trimming and edging, I thought of a good subject for a non-fiction story, one that I will enjoy researching and writing - I'll keep you posted). The wind kept it cool while I cut and trimmed, a double bonus. The lawn looks good, in case you were wondering (okay, maybe not as good as the baseball field - but good!).

After the lawn and bushes, at the insistence of my lovely better half, I went to one of my favorite places, the driving range, and practiced putting (1 hour),

chipping and sand shots (1 1/2 hours)

and then finished with full swings (the final 30 minutes). I left the range satisfied with the work I did and the finely honed skills which will help me score better the next time I play in league or a regular round of the King's sport.

I drove home from the range and we ordered and picked up one of my favorite foods, a meat lover's pizza from Dominos. This was another change in plans as Friday night, after going to dinner (a birthday eve celebration) we went to Kroger and purchased a steak for me and salmon for her, planning on grilling both for my birthday dinner. We could have them tomorrow for Mother's Day.

I opened cards and presents and was wonderfully surprised at the thoughtfulness that went behind the presents. I also checked the blogs of wife and daughters and they all had a birthday message for me (again, very thoughtful).

During the course of the last couple days, I have received multiple wishes of happy birthday via e-mail and telephone.

If everyone was as lucky as I am and had the great people around them I do, I think the world would be a pretty happy place.

Have a good one. KipK

use your blinker

I have now been driving for over 34 years. When I first learned how to drive (last century), I studied from the book, took drivers ed., practiced driving with my parents (first my dad, then my mom when I couldn't quite master the art of the clutch), and then took the test (okay, more than once - and I got a much better score on both the written and the practical the second time).
On the written test, and in the rules of the road booklet from which I gathered all my driving knowledge, there were many entries about how and when to use the turn signal (whose technical name shall heretofore be "the blinker"), what to do if the blinker was not working (the alternate hand signals), distances from intersections and corner from which you should signal and so on.
I learned how to use my blinker from the very start and have tried to consistently use it whenever I change lanes, am turning and basically any time I want the people behind me (and sometimes in front of me) to know what I am going to do. I suppose you could say, I am communicating, in the most basic fashion, my intent so that others around me know what to expect and what action they may take in response (if an action is necessary).

Today, in my opinion, there is a decided lack of use of the blinker. The lack is felt not only around the neighborhood, where a driving neighbor could possibly be forgiven for rolling through the stop sign and not signaling their right hand turn. It is not only missing from some of driving around the town, where everyone is comfortable with the same kind of relaxed attitude around the Dairy Queen. Blinker use is lacking everywhere. In my daily commute, I would estimate that 50% or less of the commuters between the entrance ramp onto the highway and the exit ramp fifteen miles later use their blinker. There is such a lack of blinkering that I have often wondered if it is still a part of the drivers test. Maybe, maybe not but I think I figured out a couple of the reasons why people don't use their blinker.

To whit:
Everyone has two or less hands to drive with. One of the hands needs to be on the wheel at all times (ideally). The other hand could either be on the wheel (where it should also be) or occasionally moving the blinker up or down to signal a right or left hand turn. On many occasions in these modern times, the second hand is otherwise occupied and cannot be used to signal. Hand occupying activities while driving have been documented and are, in increasing astonishment, the following: changing the radio station, holding a cigarette, holding a cell phone next to the ear (which sometimes leads the driver to use the hand on the wheel to gesture, leaving no hands for the wheel OR the blinker), reaching into the back of the car to discipline a child, turning the page of a book the driver is reading, applying mascara and even shaving legs (one of which is on the dashboard).
I get that today's life is moving faster and that we need to multi-task whenever possible to stay current with everything we need to do. I'm not sure that multi-tasking has a place while you drive the car. Save multi-tasking for work, home, church.

When you drive somewhere, use both hands for driving and use your blinker. You might save yourself from being rear ended as you pull into the gym parking lot (because the car behind you saw your blinker and slowed down, giving you time to turn in). You will make every trucker on the road happier because they enjoy seeing people obey the law and keeping the roads safer for them. You will make your spouse and children happy because the little blinker, blinker, blinker sound is almost musical and kind of fun. You will make the policeman hidden behind the bush happy because he doesn't have to interrupt his day with a small law break and will be ready for the big one (he may even wave to you as you drive by).

So use you blinker, it's good for you and the rest of the world (the cumulative effect of everyone using their blinker might even create a greater world peace) and have a good one. KipK

a national tradition

Over the period of time since they were invented and since there was a deadline imposed, filing your taxes has become a national institution and an April 15th tradition (except, of course, for those in the small, very vocal and only slightly irritating minority of filers who file early).

While most/all of the people preparing their taxes complain and commiserate with co-workers, friends, neighbors and relatives, I think deep down (really deep down), there is at least a little bit of "we're all in this together" that if it is not satisfying is certainly at least a bitter sweet relationship we carry with us.

Some years, there are refunds and the race is on to file as early as possible to get a refund of . . . uhm, . . . my money back. Yeah, when a person gets a refund, it takes a very clear head not to see it as free money and go out and immediately spend it on something at least semi frivolous (in my opinion, anyway).

The best kind of a refund is the surprise refund. This happens when the taxpayer/preparer thinks that this year he/she is definitely going to be paying something, probably an amount that is at least noticeable if not slightly painful. He is filling out the forms, mentally adding and subtracting interest earned, charitable donations and calculating the number of dependents times the new, higher deduction amount for each dependent. All these numbers, calculations, additions and subtractions finally clear up as the taxes owed is determined and the taxes paid is written (entered) on the appropriate line, and . . . taxes paid is more than taxes owed and the concourses of angelic singers begin their "Hallelujahs!" The tax payer stands, raises his arms into the air in triumph, the conquering hero, the Nobel Peace Prize winner, the champion of the world. I've been there and tasted that sweet, intoxicating elixir of success and prosperity.



Then, there is the flip side, where as you are going through the calculations, you get a heavy, almost atmospheric pressure like feeling that the world is not going to be your oyster this year. You continue to add and subtract, you wonder how much the donated sweaters were actually worth and what the donation value should really be, and how the government hasn't ever walked a mile in your income producing, family and community supporting, American as baseball, apple pie a la mode and Chevrolet shoes and if they had, even for a moment, they would be more careful in spending your hard earned dollars. Of course, there eventually comes the time when the same calculation which elated you last year and which will not elate you this year has to be recorded and finalized, the final tally, the losing score, the indignant blow to your psyche (okay, a bit over the top, but I was on a semi-roll). En fin, there are no raised arms, no imagined cheers from the adoring crowd, just a sigh of resignation and relief, a move to get the check book and send more of those hard earned dollars to do their duty.

And then . . . and then . . . your tax triumph/disaster becomes a water cooler story and is gone. Another year, another filing. Let's go play golf (because another sign of the tax filing deadline is better weather).

That was kind of fun, wasn't it. Have a good one. KipK