Monday, April 23, 2007

FINALLY, a nice weekend...

This was the first weekend I was actually able to play some golf. (thank God)

Saturday:

I played Buffalo with Marcia & Teecy. Started out very rough, especially for that easy hole. I took an 8. It was just butt ugly. I was able to regroup, with a bogy, then a double, then 4 bogies in a row. But, then on #8, another big-old 8 (gasp!!!). I did manage to come in strong with a par though. I had Marcia by 1 stroke at the turn with a 50.

The back got better, despite taking a double on #10 (a par 4). I then went bogy, bogy, par, double. But, then I really hit my stride... I went par, par, par, bogy to finish out the side. A 44 for the back, taking Marcia by 7 overall.

The course was in really nice shape.

Sunday:

I played Pheasant Ridge with Dale and my cousin John. I was really trying to beat John. I wasn't playing too bad early. Bogy, double, par, double, outta the gate. Then I took a crushing 8 on #5, a 510 yard par 5. I hit a great drive & second shot, but when I was shooting for the green, I peeled it out of bounds to the right and had to take a drop. I was able to recover and even par that little bitch of a hole, #9, to come in with a 49. I had John by 2.

I improved on the back. I was pretty solid, but did double bogy 2 of the 3 par 5's. I picked up a stroke a hole for the first 3 to lead by 5 after 12, then John made his push. He got it back to even for the side (me still up by 2) on 15, but then I put him away. He went 7, 7, 7... (par 5, Par 3, and a par 4). I went par, bogy, par... I finished with a 46, winning by 10 strokes.



I really need to be more consistent by the end of May when I make my big trip to San Antonio to play a few rounds with my golfing arch-nemesis, AssClown.

Friday, April 06, 2007

Rather than post about the last 3 months, I thought I would look forward and post about an upcoming event to which I am looking forward.

I have put together a fishing trip for the last weekend in April to Ocracoke Island NC.

I have done this before about half a dozen time, but not for about 3 years. What I like to do is leave late (about 10 PM) on a Wednesday night. Drive to Cape Hatteras. It’s about a 10 hour drive, so you get there with perfect timing to have breakfast at a place called Diamond Shoals. A great breakfast place. Then, take the ferry over to Ocracoke. Check in to the motel. Check with the dock master and/or the captain on the reserved charter. Then, it’s time to start drinking.

Now, since I like to play golf, I usually take the ferry back up to Hatteras and play golf. Others like to pier fish or surf fish… but either way, the drinking has commenced.

We should all be on the island by about dinner time on Thursday. Most likely wind up at Howard’s Pub [http://www.howardspub.com/]. A good party place. Pool tables, darts… plus you can walk back to the motel. We can party our asses off, just so we make it to the dock at 5 AM…

I have booked a fishing charter called the Drum Stick. The captain’s name is Dave Nagel. He’s a little rough around the edges, but a very good charter captain. We will go gulf stream deep sea fishing all day. We hope to catch yellow fin tuna, king mackerel, wahoo, dolphin (mahi-mahi, the fish, not flipper…). If they are not biting with us “pulling lines” (trolling), we will anchor over a shipwreck and drop lines for red snapper, grouper… but either way… we should get a shit-load of fish.

We will bring beer and sandwiches on the boat.

Now, I’ve never gotten sea sick. I used to spend lots of time on the water when I was younger, working a scuba dive charter in Florida. But, it has been a while, and I am not taking any chances on ruining my time, so I will take some sea-sick pills, just to be safe.

You get back to the dock about 5 PM. There is a guy that will filet your fish there for a modest price. We can then take some of the catch to a restaurant call Pony Island and they will cook it for you however you like it. (Cajun-blackened is my favorite) It’s not a bad deal, you bring the fish, they cook it, give you a veg., a potato and some hush puppies for about $8 per person. You will never eat fresher fish than that… ever!!!

Usually, people are a little pooped out after dinner. A day of hard drinking, followed by a day of hard fishing and more drinking… and we are not as young as we used to be, LOL!!! Probably hit the sack a little earlier this night. Then back on the dock at 5 AM on Saturday… do it all over again.

Get up Sunday morning, get some breakfast, then start the 10 hour drive home.

I am taking Monday off work, as a recovery day.

All in all, a pretty good time.

We should all have a ton of fish to bring home. Way too much for me to eat since I live alone. I have suggested we have a big fish-fry the following weekend, inviting a bunch of people to eat it all… make a big party out of it. Anyone not bring fish has to bring BEER!!! No definite plans yet.