Hi There Blogland

I have to get into work early today, so just a few brief notes:

I may have to bail out of work early to go to a State Farm golf outing, tee time is 1 PM. W told me he might not go & to bring my stuff, just in case.

W did not do an important deposition summary back in March. Now the carrier wants it. I took the transcript home over the weekend & read it twice. I will dictate the summary first thing this morning. He didn't even say thanks.

The car is running good. Still a little "hot" though... need to keep an eye on it.

I drank with Gary B & his wife yesterday. Got some good news.

It is gonna be freak'n hot today. There are thunder storms out there right now.

*EDIT* One more thing... did any of you ever cook & eat king crab legs, while drunk, then wake the next morning to find you tore-up your hands on the "spikey things"... and find little bits of shell & crab meat all over the carpet??? No reason, just asking.




I'll be checking in with everybody later... OH.... and HAPPY BIRTHDAY to PK!!!!

Goog Morning

It's early Sunday, I'm having my coffee and getting ready to jump in the shower. I'm leaving for the golf course within the hour. It will be just me and D, from work.

Yesterday was pretty uneventful. Basically, didn't do anything.

I'm boring.

Are You Ready For Some Football???

On The Road Again...

Weekend Plans...

Well, since I was up in the air over the car situation... I didn't really make any plans for the weekend. I picked up the car yesterday, and it seemed fine, but I didn't drive it very far.

M and her family have rented a house at Dewey (sp?) Beach in Delaware for all of next week. I am welcome to head down there (or over there, as the case may be). But, that is about a 6 hour drive & I can't miss work on Monday, so I'd have to drive back Sunday. The up side... A weekend of partying at the beach with my friends. The down side, 12 out of 48 hours in the car, the car that let me down for the last week. Makes me nervous to make such a long trip till I'm sure everything is ok.

Also, if Bobby B is not working, he is always up for fishing.

As for Sunday, I know D & GW have an early tee time somewhere... I can always join them.

So... here is the plan...

I'm gonna go to work today. See how the car runs on the parkway. After work, I will likely go to happy hour. I always make better decisions with a few beers in me (HA!!!) If the car is running good... and I get a bug... I might just throw a bag in the car, dive to the beach throughout the night, party my ass off all day Saturday. Then recover on the drive back Sunday. I will decide after happy hour. If not the beach, I will call Bobby & see what he's up to. There are a few other people I can call for a last minute golf match. There is always cleaning the apartment, laundry... visting the parents... stuff like that. Then Sunday, do the golf with D & GW.

I'll just play it by ear. See how the car is running... how I feel after happy hour... then make the call...

Oh, I almost forgot... Steelers training camp opens today... so you know what that means MX, not only will there be golf posts, but football posts as well.

I hope everyone has a nice weekend.

Good Morning Blogland

Life is now returning to normal.

My car will be ready after work. I can leave the rental at the dealer, they will pick it up there.

I have a meeting at 10AM, then my usual Thursday Defense Group conference call at 3 PM.

I need a beer already.

Working From Home Today

Well, the "garage mechanic" I had working on my car could not fix the problem. He said I should take it to the dealer, before spending anymore money.

The car would not even make it up the one hill, so I had to try another route. This time I made it. Dropped the car off at the dealer and walked home.

I called Enterprise, to "come pick me up", but at this suburban location, they were out of cars. I should try back around noon.

Ok...

Work sucks... (I hate computers sometimes...)

My car sucks... (I hate my car right now...)

My love life sucks... (I hate that I can't find a good woman...)

My apartment sucks... (I spend more on golf'n & drink'n than the roof over my head...)


But...

Every once in a while, something happens that makes your frigg'n day...

October 25, 26 & 27... The Bellagio, Las Vegas...

On the firm dime... Whoo Hoo!!!!

The Car Is Still Sick

Well, the car is still in the shop again today.

Yesterday, we tried some cheaper things... Cleaned the EGR Valve, spark plugs & wires, fuel filter. No luck. Its still not running right.

Today, we will start looking at some "bigger ticket" items... The catalytic converter and the fuel pump... wish me luck. If I can get outta there under a grand I will feel fortunate.

Sunday...

Another day-o-golf.

I got up WAY early to play golf. We had a tee time of 6:30. I played with 3 guys from work (D, a partner, M, the admin, GW, the asshole fellow associate). We were joined by a client. It was almost dark & foggy went we started, but it burned off in a little while. You can't go out as a 5-some, so we did 3 & 2. We then joined up about 4 holes in. We played pretty fast & didn't hold people up.

I was really playing inconsistently. I pared 5 holes. (all 4 par-3's & 1 par 4) I was really struggling off the tee. Trust me, a 600 yard par 5 plays very long when you pop-up your tee shot!!! I hit 48-51 for a 99. My short game kept it from being worse. (I just love my lob wedge!!!)

We finished and I was heading home by 10:30. Got home & watched the British Open. ) Tiger is definitely BACK.

I had to drop my car off at the shop. It is really running bad. I'm not sure what is wrong. Funny, it started just as the girl upstairs got kicked out... I hope she didn't put sugar in my gas tank or anything like that. I just hope whatever is wrong, it costs me less than a grand. The stupid car is paid off in 2 more payments. I was hope'n to go about a year without a car payment. I wanted to put that money away for a down-payment on another one.

After, I met M for a couple beers. I had plans to do some other stuff, but just lacked the energy. Went to bed early.

A Fun Round of Golf

I had a really fun round of golf yesterday.

M & I were going to play for a beer a Murrysville Golf Course yesterday. She can usually beat me, when she plays from the Red Tees (the ladies tees) and I play from the White Tees (the men's regular tees). Generally, the reds are 1000 yards to 1500 yards shorter. From the same tees we are a pretty good match. So, we were gonna flip a coin to decide where to play from. (I am secure enough in my masculinity to play a "red tee challenge"... at the end of the day, you still need to hit your shots) Well, J, from my office, joined us at the last minute... so him & I played the whites, and M played the reds.

M came outta the gate well... par-par... I hit, bogy-bogy... I'm 2 down. Then, she stated blowing up, and a stayed steady with bogies... as a matter of fact, I had 8 straight bogies... then pared #9. I had a 44 on the front, and made the turn with a 2 stroke lead. J bailed out at the turn, he wasn't playing so well.

The back 9 didn't start out so well, I had 2 double bogies right off. I managed to come back with a par, the started a string of bogies again... snapped up another par later on... finished the back with a 46... 90 overall. Shoulda broke 90 for the 1st time this summer, but it was good enough to beat M by 6 strokes, even with her advantage of playing the shorter tees. (Boo YA!!!)

After, we went to Fylnn's so she could buy me my victory beer. While there I met a very pretty young (for me) lady, Michele... (that's how she spells it... I know that cuz she wrote it down for me... along with her phone number... Boo YA!!!) [Dzer, none of the girls will have read this far, HA!!!]

Thanks...

I just want to send my thanks out to all the people in my apartment building with who I share laundry facilities... thanks for sharing your lint with me.

There is nothing I enjoy more than, when putting my clothes in the dryer, cleaning out the lint you've left behind... thanks for sharing.

Weekend Plans

This weekend should be pretty calm. At least the heatwave has broken.

I have tee times to play golf both Saturday & Sunday. The time is very early on Sunday, 6:30, so there will be no late night drinking the night before, which is probably a good thing.

I am a little behind on my timesheets for this month, so I am going to email them to myself at home & get them caught-up over the weekend.

I have told T that I won't be seeing her anymore & Donna is WAY out of the picture, so I will be available for some new experiences, should anything present itself.

That is basically about it.

I hope everyone has a nice weekend.

I Played tag Too...

Have you ever.....

Gotten stuck in an elevator? Well, never "stuck", but have shut them off on purpose...

Egged a person? Only during that "egg toss game" at a picnic, does that count?

Stalked someone to find out where they work or live? If by "stalked" you mean follow them, then no. But I have used certain resources to find people.

Spent an entire day in nothing but your underwear? Yes.

Read some friends mail or other personal papers without them knowing? No.

Gone skinny dipping? Yes.

Been in a fist or cat fight? Yes.

Lasts....
Time you tripped? Can't remember...

Time you cleaned up the base of your toilet? Last weekend.

Gum you had? Bazzoka.

Pair of socks? Black dress socks.

Beverage you had? Coffee

Spur of the moment decision you made? Bought a pair of shoes.

Movie you watched? Batman, that newish one...

What would you.....

Say if your best friend told you they love you. ? (male or female) I love you too. (Friends can say that)

Right now.....

What are you wearing? Brown dress pants, a tan short sleeve shirt.

What are you thinking? I should be getting some work done.

What are you listening to? ESPN Radio

What would you like to be listening to? A particular voice.

Are you annoyed by the length of this survey? Nope.

Are you tired? A little.

How many people in the room? One, if I count myself.

Any cuts or bruises on your body? No.

Are there any animals in the room? No.

Are you eating anything? No.

Mondays Are Caddy Day

My friend Sal caddies at a local country club on the weekends for extra cash. This is the same club I worked at as a kid, but didn't play golf at the time. I have always wanted to play this course now, but it is privet, and I could never get on.

Last night, Sal took me to play there after work. We started on the back 9. I came out of the gate par-bogey. I had a blow-up hole, then recovered, I hit a putt from the fringe on a par 5 for birdie. I struggled for a couple holes... then ended with another putt from the fringe for par. We only got in 13 holes before it got too dark.

I had a good time playing a nice privet course that I have always wanted to play... it was even FREE!!!

Women

Women…

Yesterday, I had a long conversation with myself on the subject of women & the current state of my dealings with them.

I have always been, at least, moderately successful when it came to dealing with women. (depending on how one measures "success")

In high school, I dated older girls that were out of school or in college. After high school, in the years before I returned to school, I always dated the hottest girls. Older, younger, models, engaged, married, it didn’t matter to me. When I returned to school, I dated a lot of younger girls. I had a "thing" for foreign girls. Probably my 2 longest relationships were with foreign girls, one from Hungary the other from the Philippines. While in law school, I dated a beautiful girl, who after we broke up, began working as a stripper. Then a local girl, once again beautiful, who was 10 years my junior (with an absolutely great all natural rack). After law school, my success rate dropped precipitously. I'm not sure completely why, but I think it is because I was no longer looking for just a good time, but felt it was time for something more.

As I sit and contemplate my current state, I find myself asking, "What the hell happened to me?"; "What happened to my standards?"

I am still obsessed with Donna. I am fooling around with T. In my younger days, I would have barely given these 2 the time of day.

Now, I am making a fool of myself trying to get Donna back. I would have never done such a thing. And, T, she just isn'’t my type. She is filling a gap & that's it. I know it makes me a bad person, but when I'm with her, I find myself thinking about how to break it off with her. Is that fair to her? No.

All this makes my think of a song lyric… ...“the more I know, the less I understand...” whether it be about women, generally, or about myself.

Maybe, it is a matter of my current desperation for a more meaningful relationship. I think women can smell desperation on a man like a dog smells fear. Now, despite the diminution of my standards in the "looks" department, when I find someone I actually like, I come on too strong. Drives them away. When I really don't care whether or not I ever see them again, they will do whatever I ask, literally and figuratively.

I just don't know what to do...… my head tells me to forget about Donna... move on... she wasn't worth it anyway... then, I feel lonely & miss her kiss, her touch, her smile... and I call, send an email, a text message... knowing better, but I can't seem to stop myself.

Then when I get no reaction, or a reaction I don't like... I contact T. She makes me feel attractive, stimulating... It helps fill the emptiness left from the rejection, but I know it's not going anywhere.

I just don't know what I'm going to do... I don't want to be a bother to Donna & I don't want to just lead T on... I should probably just try to forget about both of them and start fresh.

It Was Great...

OK, I shot 112... But it was Oakmont.

This was like no golfing experience I have ever had. I normally golf at cheap public courses... for the most part. You pull your car in the parking lot, looking for a strategic spot where it won't get hit by any stray golf balls, change your shoes in the parking lot... stuff like that.

Not at Oakmont.

We pull into the car port... a valet takes the car, golf bags, shoes & the bag with the clothes for changing... directs us to the Men's Grill, where Mr. M is waiting. Lunch has already been ordered. We eat, then off to the locker room.

We are assigned a locker. There is a metal plaque above my locker indicating this one was used by Ernie Els in 1994 when he won the US Open, so I guess it is good enough for me. While changing, they have attendants that are asking if you want sunscreen, baby power, new soft-spikes, beverages (there is a full bar in the locker-room).

We stop in the Pro Shop, then head over towards the 1st tee. We are assigned 4 caddies & have 2 carts. We ride in the carts while a caddy stands on the back, handing us our clubs, cleaning them after we hit, telling us the yardage... the other 2 are walking 150 to 200 yards ahead, marking our balls as we hit. That is a fore-caddy, so I'm told. With "US Open ready ruff" it can be very difficult to find your ball, let alone hit it... so these guys really help. (not that I was ever in the deep rough or anything... HA!!!) They will place a little flag by your ball then move up again. On the carts, they had a little cooler... not for beer, but it was filled with ice and little chilled and lemoned towels, to cool off with. (gosh!!!)

Now, for the game. I was very nervous starting out. I have never golfed using a caddy before. I have never played a course even in the same league before. I was playing with the Sr. Partner & a client. Standing in view of the patio of the club house. The first hole is the No. 1 handicap hole (the hardest hole on the golf course). I took a fairway wood & put it about 220, just down the left rough. Outta the gate... I take a double bogy & move on.

It probably took me 3 or 4 holes to realize that it is just another golf course. A freak'n hard ass golf course, but just a course none-the-less. The fairways look like the greens of most courses I play. And the greens... I have never putted on greens like these before. Undulating, hard to read & slicker than snot... I was in the famous "Church Pews" (bunkers in picture above) on number 3, but managed to "punch out." The rough was so thick there was no way for a player like me to really advance the ball very much, you just had to take a club with enough loft to get it outta there and hopefully back into the fairway.

I had one par on the front 9 & one on the back. On the bad side, I had a snowman (an 8) on the front & a 9 on the back... but for the most part, I was taking double bogy. Not too shabby, considering...

After the round, we return to the locker room for a shower. Even the showers in this place were great. They had these huge shower heads and temperture controls that were amazing... if you set it just right, it felt like you were in a cool rain storm... very refreshing. They have this one area set up, just to powder your feet...

So, I must say, it was an experience, start to finish... a golf experience like I have never had. It was a bit "high brow" for my tastes, but it was still fun.

Out of Office... Again.

Well, Friday is another day out of the office

I have to meet one of the partners up near Perrysville. We will then drive to the airport & pick up the client. His flight is scheduled to land at 9AM. By the time we get out of the airport, assuming it gets in one time, should be around 10AM.

It is about an hour to Oakmont Country Club. We will eat lunch in the Men's Grill. Tee time is 12:20 PM. Have to figure a 4 1/2 hour round. So, we should finish up around 5PM. Probably, do dinner somewhere nice, then drive this client about an hour south, to Washington PA. Another hour back north to my car. Finally, another 40 min back to my place.

This will be a long day.

Well, It's confirmed...

Friday, at 12:20 PM, I tee off at Oakmont Country Club.

You non-golfers won't understand, but this is really something. This place is... is... one of the greatest places on earth... When you watch the US Open next year, and you see the greatest golfers in the world struggling... just think that Knight struggled here too...

No matter what else happens, I am walking up the 18th fairway.

"By far the most picturesque hole on Oakmont and perhaps the greatest finishing par four in golf. You must drive in the fairway to avoid "chip out" bunkers left and right. An uphill mid-iron to a very undulated green makes for a great finish."

Auto-Reply: Out of Office

Well, I have to drive up to Clarion for a Motion this morning. It is just as well, I can avoid the Baseball All-Star Game traffic. Downtown should be a nightmare today.

I'll check back when I get home.

Weekend Report 7/8-7/9

This weekend was pretty good.

Friday, after work, I stopped at happy hour near the office with D. We drank 2 beers, then is was time to head to the suburbs. I called my friend M t meet me at a bar where I expected this girl T to be hanging out. She was. Eventually, T came over and talked to M and myself. M & T got along pretty well. After M left, I got to know T a little better. (see snippy little post from Saturday morning below)

Saturday, I played golf with M, C, & Tees. I was playing pretty well. Had a 47 for the front 9. I came out smoke’s on the back. For the 1^st 5 holes (10-14) I was only 3 over par, which is really good for me. I went bogy, bogy, par, par, bogy. I was thinking I had a really good shot at breaking 90, having my best round of the summer. Then… you guessed it… I took a “9”!!! A freak’n 9!!! After that, I never recovered… the last 3 holes were all double bogies… I just couldn’t get it back together.

We stopped for a sandwich & some beer on the way home. After, I went up to another local bar where I knew T was filling in for a waitress that evening. She had mentioned it the night before. She said she would be working till 10 & wanted me to stop up. I did. I didn’t stay till 10, when she got off work, but I told her I had to get up really early to golf the next morning with some guys from work.

Sunday was a very early tee time. D, GW & I were playing Suncrest. A nice course and a very good value for the money. I wasn’t having my best round, but I was only 3 strokes behind GW, who I always want to beat. However, he threw his back out on number 8 & bailed out at the turn. D & I finished the round. It seemed a little early to start drinking beer, but D was in the mood. We sat & drank 2, then got outta there.

I went home & took a nap. Cleaned up a little bit. Did some food shopping. I called T around 4ish. She was having dinner at her parents, but wanted to meet me after. We met & had 2 beers at a local bar. Then thought it might be nice to have a glass of wine at my place. She hung out for a little while, then headed home.

Anyway… all in all, it was a pretty good weekend. I’m a little sleepy today because I was up a little later than usual, but I will be fine.

I hope everyone had a good weekend too.

Donna Who????

Well, I called that one. (see end of the post below)

I made a move last night on the young (relatively speaking) brunette I mentioned in yesterday's post last night. For blog purposes I will call her T.

I was right, she is very friendly.

The Upcoming Weekend

This weekend should be fairly uneventful.

I have no plans for Saturday, as of yet.

Sunday, I have a tee time for 7:30 AM at Suncrest. So far, it is just me and D. We're still looking for 2 more... any takers?

No chance I will be seeing Donna, especially after what I said last night. Oh well, her loss. There has been this young brunette girl at one of the local bars who has been especially friendly lately. Might have to try for some revenge sex.


*EDIT*

WOOO HOOO!!! I forgot... it's EXPENSE CHECK FRIDAY!!!

We'll See...

Yesterday was the Partners Meeting.

At that meeting, they were to decide raises for this year. Now, I learned a long time ago not to have over inflated expectations. But, that being said, I have done really well this year. My billable dollars are 15% over the Associate average. I did all the "heavy lifting" on a plaintiff medical malpractice case that earned the firm a substantial fee & recovered the over $10,000. that the firm invested in the case. I am in the office early every morning & don't cause trouble. So, we'll see.

One of the Partners, that I work mostly for, called me last night & asked me to pick him up on way into the office, so I think I am safe in assuming at least I'm not being fired. He is cool, so I will work him for some info on the way in. He is usually tight-liped about this kinda stuff, but I will give it a shot.

Twice a year, the Partners like to sit the associates down in what we call "Star Chamber" and do our bi-annual reviews. The one in July is for raises and the one in December is for bonuses. My last one didn't go very well. My numbers were not strong. Mostly because of what I call "hour poaching." Since then, I have been mainly working for a different partner, and my numbers have jumped dramatically (see a connection?). I hope they see it as well.

As far as my expectations go, on the low end, I'd like to increase my 401K contributions and maybe have enough left over to play a couple nicer golf courses across the month. On the high end, it would be nice to have enough for a nicer place to live, while maintaining my all important "golf & vacation budget."

We"ll see...

The Golf Match

Yesterday was a really good day. I left work early. Went to play golf with M, Tees & Dan at the Links at Spring Church. I played really freak’n well!!! It was the first time I played Dan, and he talks the about all the great courses he plays all over the country, so it was a little intimidating at first. He had me by 1 stroke after the first hole. But, on the second, he crushes a ball out of bounds and I take him by 2 strokes, now I am winning by 1!!! GAME ON!!!

We went back and forth for 3 holes, and then I played him even for 2. I was down a stroke when we tee off on number 8, he pars the hole & I take a double bogy. That was the way we finished the front 9, I was down by 3.

Dan comes out smoke'’n on the back. After 3 holes he gains another 5 strokes on me, I am now down by 8 with 6 holes to play... not looking real good for me at this point. But, as they say: Don'’t give up!!! don't ever give up!!! I par number 13, he double bogies, I get back one more stroke on 14, then we hit the "teeth" of the course.

Number 15 is a long par 5. This hole is 520 yards, and plays every bit of it. We both bogy. Number 16 is a massive par 4, 410 yards. I get back another stroke. Number 17 is another long hole, a 190 yard par 3, I get one more back. So, when we tee off on number 18, I have gotten back to even for the back 9 & down by 3 strokes overall.

Now, number 18 is my favorite hole on the course. A 503 yard par 5, all down hill, with a pond right in front of the green. I pop my tee shot up in the air & need a great second shot to have a chance. I CRUSH the ball, right down the middle. I am sitting sweet in the fairway about 145 yards out. Dan sliced his second and is in trouble. He had to punch-out for his 3rd. I am half tempted to take an extra club, so to be sure I clear the water... but then I say F-it!!! trust the club. I nail the green in regulation, pin high, about 10 feet away from birdy. Dan misses the green, he scrubbs his first chip, then has a weak chip for his 6th shot & is look'’n at double bogy, possibly worse. Dan sinks a 12 footer for double, now I need this putt for the birdy, just for the tie. I had the line... the speed was good... it just lipped out!!! It was a good par, but I end up losing by 1. ONE FREAK'’N STROKE!!!

What a fun match. I enjoyed the hell out it.

(Edit... I added a picture of the approach & the 18th green)

Everyone have a great & safe day.

The 4th of July and The Weekend Report

This weekend was pretty boring...

Saturday, I played golf at the country club of one of the partners from work. I struggled early, then pulled it together later. I managed a tie for the front 9. It really took some inspired play on 7, 8 & 9, while J folded like... like a... like something that folds easily (nothing clever leaped into my brain). I played my average game on the back 9 (take my bogey and go... nothing worse than double... sneak in a par here & there...) J continued to struggle. I won by 6.

After, I drank a few beers with J. Then stopped at the Legion for a couple more. I made a swing past Flynn's, but none of my friends were there. As I headed home, I saw Bobby B's car at JV's... and decided to stop. This place is a real dump, not the average dump bar, but the kind where when you use the bathroom, you touch nothing but yourself... ya know what I mean? So, I have a couple beers, then... totally out of character for me, I started doing shots. (I was buying rounds of shots for the whole bar, only like 6 or 7 people). Well, thank God this place is very close to home.

This made for a rough Sunday. I was pretty useless. I managed to do a few things, but not much. I did some laundry, ran the vacuum cleaner, that kind of stuff. A little later, I took my bike to get some air in the tires. I went to the store & bought a new pair of tenny-runners, also stopped for some fruit. That was about all I could muster.

Today, should be a good day. I am going into the office for a little bit, but it should be a short day. I have a tee time in the afternoon at the Links at Spring Church.

I hope everyone has a nice holiday.