Next Lesson

My golf game is suffering!  You may wonder how a game not yet played can be in distress. PG (Professional Golfer) told me to be able to consistently hit the ball where I want it to go and we will schedule my next lesson.  My plan was to practice the process on the driving range four to five times this week. Every morning has been dedicated to something else and tomorrow will be no different.  Afternoons have reached high ninety or 100 plus degree temperatures.  I just had an epiphany!  Does any golfer EVER reach that point when the ball consistently goes where it's expected.  I hear too many expletives coming from other players to think that is the case...hmm.  Maybe I'll go ahead and call to schedule that next lesson for Tuesday morning.  I work better with a firm deadline. Besides, I can get three in a row straight down the range with a little air under them from time to time.  I'm calling PG tomorrow as soon as Ol' Abner is finished at the hospital!

Warming

Hill Country is absolutely beautiful this summer.  Today was very hot, but I love the feel of warmth on my face in the early morning and the heat later in the day.  As frustrating as my timing became, I still reveled in the summer heat.  My plan to go smack some golf balls at the driving range was derailed when Ol' Abner awoke and reminded me of morning errands we needed to run.  My thoughts had included them for a bit later, but off we went.  A stop at his favorite breakfast taco spot derailed my resolution to eat a light diet today.  As temperatures climbed, we traveled to the big warehouse store in my favorite shopping triangle, made our purchases and headed down the freeway toward home.  Seemed a waste to me that all my shops were bypassed.  Ol' Abner exited and turned back a few exits up the road and I thought maybe my shops weren't to be neglected, but alas, he was going back to the sporting goods store where he always needs something. Plants needed water when we returned home and again, I enjoyed the warm breeze my husband references as a "blast furnace"!  I finished a few housekeeping tasks, folded some laundry and considered an afternoon nap (as in lazy hazy days of summer)  The dog lay in the afternoon sun outside...she gets it.  Ol' Abner took a nap.  We left the house again to meet friends for an evening meal.  Hardtime Man will be the same age as Ol' Abner tomorrow.  We celebrated tonight at our favorite Italian Restaurant.  As we drove across the Ranch Road leading to our rendezvous, I noticed the beauty of the drive through the hills.  The sun, low in the sky, cast shadows and highlights on the landscape.  I wish everyone could view this as I do.  It's the place in the world that makes me love the heat!

One Step at a Time

I'm getting ready for a busy weekend.  Daughter and her family are coming tomorrow and leaving early Sunday.  Son and DIL are off on a motorcycle ride and rally with overnight campout.  Their air conditioner has taken a cue from ours and died just as they are planning to leave town.  My golf practice continues, even though I'm not yet allowed to leave the driving range or use any club other than the 7 iron.  Hardtime Man and Rot'n Girl have been a little out of the action as he recovers from surgery on his lip.  It was more involved than expected and he was pretty quiet for a couple of days. Dancing Girl and Guitar Man are still reeling from the knowledge that their middle child and only daughter will be moving to Seattle in a few short weeks.  I have medical testing scheduled for this afternoon and more tests late next week.  My little doc thinks the best way to stay healthy lies in pro-active diagnostics and preventive care.  My little mind finds all this poking and prodding and examining just a bit dramatic, but I'll go along.  Ol' Abner's next exam has been moved up from four months to next week and Daughter is probably facing repeat of one of her knee replacements at the end of next month.  So how does all that make this weekend busy?  Sheets must be washed, we will let the A/C repairman in at Son's house.  Meals will be planned and we do have Hardtime Man's birthday on Wednesday.  The lawn must be mowed and edged and the little mama bird raising her flock on the back porch should be ready to teach them to take wing soon.  Cooking on the grill has been a little dicey lately with the patio inhabitants acting territorial.  Meals for a crowd always come together when the grill is flaming.  If this missive seems rambling and disconnected, it's because my mind is on that same aimless stumble.  Focus! Focus, Daisy Mae! Plant your feet firmly on the ground and move forward with purpose!  OK...I can do this.

Sing it!

Ol Abner's class reunion was a great success. We began the weekend on Friday night with a backyard jam session at a friend's home.  I had no idea such musical talent lurked within the ranks of his schoolmates.  Tunes from the sixties through current day pop sounds with a little country twang were included.  A Cowboy Poet entertained us when the singers were done.  Our host had advised that we could each bring the beverage of our choice and a finger food if we wanted. This gang provided fruits, veggies, chips and dips, meatballs, small sandwiches, salsas, baked delights and even a little beef jerky.As the sun dropped behind the fence, the music played on and the conversation and laughter continued.  We loved this opening for a delightful weekend and so hope it's the beginning of a tradition.  Next year's main event will be at the Frazier Pavilion on the Texas Tech campus and I do hope we can kick off the reunion with the same kind of joyful noise.

What next!

I'm dealing with way too much unfinished business these days.  We are planning to attend Ol' Abners multi-year school reunion this weekend.  Before we go, projects at home must be completed.  Plants will hopefully survive in our absence.  Golf Cart will be ready for delivery sometime next week and the golf pro hasn't yet worked me into the schedule!  Photos from trips are still awaiting sorting and passing along to relevant recipients.  I really need a haircut but hairdresser hasn't returned my call.  I did get a pedicure yesterday, but manicure will have to wait til this evening after I do a little more yard work. Belle did get her bath and toenails clipped yesterday. OK, I'm feeling better.  A few things have been checked off.  Most of the laundry is completed and the floors will be this morning's project.  Now that's a partial list of physical projects, but I must manage to work through the mental issues.

When our children are in upheaval, we always feel the stress.  Health issues always are a concern, and my goofy brain won't turn off. Some belong to me, others to friends.  Worry isn't my forte'.  I tend to give a problem some thought, determine if I can offer a solution, then resort to prayer when all else fails.  I know that's not the way it should happen, but I'm a stubborn sort and tend to give it my best shot first.  We must allow our children to grow and become independent. My mother always believed that the result of good parenting was a self reliant child.  Does self-reliance mean they should be far away?  I don't think so.  Now I have to pray for acceptance!

On a good note, the air conditioner was repaired on the same day as my last whine!

Steamed!

Hill country is hot! No surprise there, but usually the air conditioner gives relief instantly when entering the house.  We returned from Temple, where Ol' Abner didn't get the great news he was planning, only to walk into a rather warm house.  He messed with the thermostat and declared it dead.  Suspecting it was on borrowed time, he had purchased a replacement a few days ago.  Gathering his tools, he set to work replacing the errant device while I turned on fans throughout the house. New thermostat was installed, and nothing changed. The dog didn't seem to be suffering, so we concluded the cooling hadn't been malfunctioning long.  A call to the air conditioner  repair contractor didn't give much comfort.  They are booked through next week, but since Ol' Abner is recovering from a surgical procedure, an evening visit would be worked in on Thursday.  I guess we better prepare to swelter for a couple of days.

FORE! well...not yet

A quiet week in our neighborhood has not been uneventful.  My decision to learn to golf has generated all sorts of excitement in Ol' Abner and several of our friends.  Lunch with a couple who golfs frequently led us on a ride to Academy where Rot'n girl could help me understand some of the equipment I might want.  I purchased a shirt with a collar, a visor, tees and shoes.  My Daisy Mae size feet wouldn't fit into the ladies shoes so the helpful sales person fitted me in men's golf shoes. It's been years since I could wear a size nine anything!  The next day we ventured over to Golf Ranch where I was fitted for clubs and bought a set for +1 ladies. (Yep, there I am, still in plus sizes)  I was told I could use either men's standard clubs or the extra length ladies clubs.  He suggested that as a beginner with no established swing and habits, a set of ladies clubs would better fit the flow of a female swing.  I think he was nicely telling me my upper anatomy wouldn't get in the way if I learned with correctly fitted clubs.  Ol' Abner has always used a little cruder way of explaining that.  After the club purchase, Ol' Abner decided we really did need the upgraded seats on our cart.  We stopped by the dealer on our way home and agreed to wait a couple of extra days to get the new cart, so red and black contoured seats can be added.

Yesterday we visited Rot'n Girl and HardTime Man's course where a pro was doing demo shots with Nike clubs.  Ol' Abner had suspected he needed to enhance his clubs with a new and better driver.  Within in a couple of swings he was driving two hundred yards with little effort.  They tell me that's pretty good.  I guess he's getting a new driver, but he wants to test a couple more before he makes his final decision.  He did enjoy sharing and hearing stories of a couple of his favorite pros.