Monday, March 25, 2024

I am Arccos Enabled

Written on 2-18-24.

      I just started my Arccos membership, and I quickly added a reminder to cancel it in February of 2025.  Otherwise, it will charge me $155 for another year.  

It was fun getting all the sensors synced with the app, and I look forward to trying them out tomorrow.  I will also pay for another membership at Pinon Hills tomorrow.  


Until next time…


Written on 2-25-24.


I am watching the Mexico Open at Vidanta on NBC on a Sunday afternoon.  It looks like it’s coming down to a battle between two golfers: Knapp and Valimaki.  Jake Knapp has a golf swing that mirrors Fred Couples, one of the announcers just commented.  

I just laced up my new cloudy gray Skechers golf shoes, and my plan is to...

Saturday, March 23, 2024

Hmmm, I'm a Positive Guy. Who knew?

Written on 2-17-24.

      B and I came up to the cabin at Vallecito for the long Presidents’ Day weekend yesterday.  Kody is sitting next to me in the dining/family area just staring out the window, and the fireplace is humming in the background.  We just had lunch at the Woodfire Grill, and it was yummy.  We shared a small Supreme Pizza and had two side salads.  Their pizza is really delicious, and I can honestly say I haven’t had a bad meal there.  It’s expensive, but it’s worth it.

Amanda and Eric are flying home from the Cayman Islands, and James and Casey will fly home from Florida later tonight.  Danielle survived her first week at the Albuquerque Fire Academy.  B survived her week with parent-teacher conferences, too.  I have two more visits left for my work this year, and I go to Albuquerque for the SIP Gathering this Friday, too.  Maybe I will have...

Friday, March 22, 2024

My 7 Essentials Scores

Also written on 1-31-24.

On to golf…

        I have wanted to get this in here since I borrowed another book from our neighbor John.  It’s called 7 Strokes in 7 Days, and I was making headway reading it until I was given an assignment.  I thought it would be super to start this year’s journal with, so here I go.

Dawn Grant, the author, asked the reader to complete some highlights and exercises.  The first is to start a journal.  Check.

The second is to “rate how well your are currently addressing each of your Seven Essentials For Great Golf on a scale of 1-10.”  (10 being the best)


1. Mechanics-7 I have spent many of the past several years on my swing mechanics (switching to more of a stack and tilt type swing), and I have improved.  Am I where I should be?  No, but I am much more confident.


2. Sleep-7  I get consistent sleep, and I sleep best when I use my oxygen.  At least that’s what B tells me.  I would score this higher if I wouldn’t sleep in sometimes, and if I was more consistent  with when I fell asleep.


3. Nutrition-6 Couldn’t most people be better with their nutrition?  Or, be better with all of these essentials?  I could cut down on sugar, of course.  I could improve the quality of my meals (better proteins and more veggies).  I could reduce my coffee intake (which includes reducing the half and half and the creamer).  So many ways I could improve in this area, but that is why I scored it a 6.


4.Hydration-9 I do really well with staying hydrated.  Not only do I do it daily, but I also do it when I play a round of golf.


5. Fitness-7 I walk daily.  I run on the treadmill and lift weights.  I have a stretching routine I work in, too.  When I am at home, I have a consistent routine.  I let my body rest and recover.  It’s when I am away from home, I struggle to work out and eat well.


6. Mental Training-4 I did lots of visualization in the past, but I have gotten away from that.  I let negative thoughts creep in when I play, too.  This is an area I could really improve.


7. Faith-9 Anyone who knows me knows I am a faithful person.  I don’t see this as an area I would need to work on right away.


There.  I got them in here.  Now, I need to get to work on my weaker ones “and get to work on them immediately.”

She is instructing me to set long term and short term goals for each of the Seven Essentials.

Saturday, March 16, 2024

Onward and Upward in 2024!

Written on 1-2-24.

      Onward and upward into 2024!


Written on 1-26-24.


It’s Eric’s birthday today, and he is 58.  His birthdays go right along with the number of Super Bowls.  Happy birthday, Eric!

Amanda drove me to the Durango Airport (on Eric’s birthday even), and I am at DIA as I write this.  I am sitting in the corner at the New Belgium Restaurant, which is right next to my B32 gate for my flight out to Dulles.  Both flights have been delayed, but I don’t mind.  Guy will be able to pick me up at the airport, because he wouldn’t have been able to do so before these delays.  It’s 4:28, but my flight leaves at 6:13, so I have a few moments.  I will continue this on the plane, too.  

ShyShay is playing in a tournament at National Harbor this weekend (a three-dayer), and that’s mostly the reason I am going.  I am so excited to see her and her team play, the VA Elites U17 team!  Guy said they have already won their first two games.

Life is expensive.  I just spent around $32.00 on fish tacos; at least they were fresh, hot, and tasty. 


Until a bit later…


Written on 1-31-24.


I am in seat 36D on my way back to Denver after an incredible trip to Reston to watch ShyShay play in the National Harbor tournament.  They won, and I joked it was because I made the trip.  I said, “I didn’t come all this way for them to take 2nd place.”

I tried to get a fund going for me to come back next weekend for the Baltimore tournament, but it didn’t take hold.

I have my noise-cancelling headphones on, and I have found a soothing video of New Zealand scenery with soft music and waves lapping up on river rock shores.  Life is good.  Wait, here is some turbulence.  Oh, and the two seats next to me are...

Tuesday, February 27, 2024

A Well-Wrapped Wrap-Up of the Year 2023

Written on 12-17-23.

     I am watching the highlights of the Woods playing at the PNC Championship.  Before that, I finished a YouTube video of Zach Allen.  It was called Ben Hogan’s Trail Arm Secret (Part 2).  It talks about holding the club cack—handed or backwards.  I first heard about this from a Pete Cowen video.  This weird way of holding the club actually puts you in the perfect position with your arms and body in the backswing.

I tried a few mini-swings with it indoors and then I went outside, too.  What I like about it is the way it feels so connected and consistent.  I might even try some swings “cack-handed” at the range at home tomorrow or at Pinon Hills on Tuesday.  Eric and I have a tee time at noon on that day.


Written on 12-24-23.


Closer and closer, we are coming to Christmas and the end of another year.  I recently gave a thumbs-up to John Lennon’s Christmas song on Pandora, Happy Xmas (War Is Over). It’s because these words resonate with me: So, this is Christmas.  And what have you done?  Another year over.  And a new one just begun.  And so this is Christmas.  I hope you had fun.

It’s nostalgic, and I am also reminded of part of the purpose for this journal.  At the very beginning of this diary (way back in September of ’99), I was getting more...