Stories from the road

Stories from the Road

October 3, 2016

Siracusa, Sicily

After walking through some colorful markets teeming with fresh fish, fruit, cheese, and Pike’s Market type guys yelling about their products, we made our way to the local bus stop to head out to some ruins.  The bus was confusing in terms of how to pay, and the driver didn’t help much as he was impatient. I gave a Dutch couple a Euro so they could stay on the bus. The woman called me a “doll”

and repaid me at the ticket booth of the ruins.

There was a young Italian guy on the bus, and he was friendly and trying to be helpful. Once a Brit asked him how many more stops and the young man hit the stop signal, thinking the Brit wanted to get off the bus. I thought, Oh, Oh, here we go with the bus driver again, but he didn’t get upset.

After the ruins, we took a cab back to the hotel and rested, before walking into the Old Town for lunch. We split an Insalata mista and a dish of pasta vongole, which was delicious. Later we stopped for pistachio and hazelnut gelato. Tonight we’ll dine in our hotel, which has a terrific looking restaurant.

Over the years I have learned not to order martinis in Europe.  What you typically get is a glass of Vermouth. At the hotel bar, I noticed a martini shaker and a martini glass, so I thought I would give it another try. Mistake. The Bartender reached for a bottle of Vermouth and a cocktail glass before I stopped him. I tried to get him to give me the shaker, but it was not to be. The martini was ok, not great, but at dinner, the bartender, now a waiter, came alive, and Evan and I ended up doing some Italian bonding. This morning at breakfast he brought us cannolis with fresh, sweet, Ricotta cheese.

September 29:Golf

Josh and I teed off into the dark mist this morning at 6:30. Luckily we both stayed on the fairway so our balls were found. The conditions reminded me of New England, and I enjoyed playing the first 9 holes in the mist.On the Valley 9, the sun came out, and we had an open course. Josh is fun to play with. he is upbeat, quick with his comments, and serious about golf. He had a bout of the shanks today, and he wasn't happy about it. Having lived in that space many times, I felt for him.

Anatomy of a Golf Lesson

Cark Renner and author

The air was cool as I made way north on highway 5 to a driving range on the border of Carlsbad and Oceanside. One might wonder why I was driving so far to hit balls. My instructor, long time golf pro-Clark Renner was working from that site. Head teaching pro at El Camino Country Club, he taught at the range since the club didn’t have one.

I had a number of questions for Clark, and I asked the first one, while I was hitting some pitch shots with my sand wedge. I told him that if I took the club to the inside my tendency was to swing out with a resulting shank, which drove me, crazy. He pointed out that I just needed to open the clubface to keep the ball going to the target. I didn’t need to take it much inside on these short shots.
Next, we talked about my full swing, and we worked on my keeping my swing on an inside-out plane. This was helpful, and I began hitting better balls. I had drifted away from taking the club inside enough.

Finally, we went to the putting green. I had been putting well, but I had noticed that when I casually hit a close putt with an open stance I rarely missed. I asked Clark if he thought this might work, and he embraced this new open stance as opposed to the one I was using. This stance helped me see the line better and felt comfortable. I used it yesterday during my round and putted well.
When I got home from my lesson, I typed up notes so that I could regularly review my lessons and assess my progress.

Short game fun

Some years ago my instructor, Clark Renner, taught me to use a nine iron when I was a few feet off the green and had a lot of green to work with. It has become one of my favorite shots. A lot of practice has helped me with my speed, so I usually get the ball within putting distance. 

The short game lends to creativity, and there are many ways to accomplish the same end. My friend Gary Vernon likes to use an 8 iron around the green, and he is very accurate. I watched a video by Padraig Harrington, and he uses a lob wedge and rarely a sand wedge. I tend to use both.

Practice Routine

My practice routine has evolved over the years. As I have improved,  I have become more focused in practice. Here is my current routine.

1. I try to go to the short game area first.  Recently I have been hitting lob shots short when I have a bunker between a green and me. The problem has been lack of acceleration through the ball. I knew this, but I wasn’t doing better. Thus I got behind the practice bunker and hit shots onto different pins. I hit 40 or so balls.
2. Next, I go into the bunker.  I have at times been taking too little or too much sad on my shots. I usually hit 40 or so balls using my sand, lob wedge depending on the height of the bunker lip and how far I want to hit the ball.
3. I then practice some short chips around the practice green trying to make good contact and end up facing the spot I am trying to land my ball.
4. Next, I hit the range and hit about 30 balls using a variety of clubs. I work on getting through the ball, hitting a draw, and pitching to a spot. A fault is collapsing my right arm and hitting across the ball. That is a work in progress to correct.
5. My final practice place is the large putting green at FRCC. I first practice long putts for speed. I then do the Phil drill of hitting numerous balls in a circle from three feet. I sometimes enlarge the circle. If the green is relatively empty I putt to each flag and try to make a 2 or better. I consider two a par and 3 a bogey etc. I try to get around in par or better. It is not easy, as some of the holes are far apart.

It would be interesting to read about others’ routines.

Stories from the road

Stories from the Road
January 10, 2014
St. George, Utah

The sun shined brightly today as we steered our blue Subaru through the high desert past Barstow, Baker, and Las Vegas. Around 4:00 PM we reached our night’s destination, St. George, Utah. There is a fire, search, and rescue group convening here, so I believe we will have a safe night.

Our drive was the smoothest one we have ever made to Southern Utah. There was not even a bottleneck in Las Vegas, which has become dense with traffic in recent years. There is a new steak and rib restaurant next to the Hilton, and a little later, we will give it a try.

For years Vicki and I have passed Peggy Sue’s Diner in Yermo, which is some miles from Barstow. It is a ramshackle kind of place, we have always wondered about it. Today we stopped for lunch, and it was excellent. A down-home, basic diner, Peggy Sue’s is a favorite spot for truckers, a good sign to be sure. Vicki had pancakes, and I had sausage and eggs with hash browns. The coffee came in solid mugs, and the waitress, who was dressed in 1950’s garb, was in refill mode. Will I return to Peggy Sue’s is not even a question I will ask.

A few years ago I received a speeding ticket on the Moapa Indian Reservation. I had the choice of paying the ticket by mail or appearing before the Tribal Council. Today I set my car on cruise control and cautiously made my way through the reservation.

Have a good evening.

David

Retirement: a Misnomer

Retirement brings a number of challenges for many people. There are losses to contend with. Income goes down, friends are left, structure recedes, and one’s identity shifts. Many jobs or careers bring meaning and purpose. Suddenly the retiree is faced with, “What now?”

Though for many there is grief associated with leaving a career or job, there is also opportunity. I like to think of retirement as a transition. Like a college graduation, the time is ripe to move on and do something different. The challenge becomes filling one’s time with activities that are meaningful, purposeful, and enjoyable.

With time and health, many people discover talents that have been dormant. One friend saw an advertisement for woodworking tools in a magazine. On impulse, he ordered some and began sculpturing in wood. He now sells his work. Other friends have become late in life painters and sculptors.

Transitions can be complicated. It is not always clear to the retiring person what he or she wants to do with new large amounts of time. It may take some time to sort out what old and new activities are meaningful. Letting go of the past and initiating toward the future have a push, pull relationship that often isn’t worked out overnight.

 

An active post-work life can bring new growth and development. Part of each person’s psychological work is to create a personal, historical narrative that integrates past and present. A life that makes sense brings self-empathy and acceptance.

Retirement brings into focus the finite nature of life.  However, the new 70 can be the old 50 with reasonable health. The ski areas know this as they keep upping the price of senior tickets. In the old days, the over 70 crowd skied for free. No more!

A Golf Story

In 1976 I was standing in a checkout line in a Safeway in Palm Springs. There were two guys in line behind me. One was flipping a can of Bud in the air while talking to his friend. Both were dressed informally and looked like a couple of buddies hanging out. At one point Arnold Palmer caught his can of Bud and put it on the counter to check out.

Stories from the Road

Stories from the Road
September 9, 2017
Olympia, WA.

Cold air has returned to Ken Lake, and for now, the smoke has gone. As the sun rises, I see blue sky with scattered clouds. It should be a good driving day, as we make our way north to SeaTac Airport for our flight to San Diego.

Yesterday morning I went to the public course in Tumwater for practice. The course has an excellent facility with sand traps, a driving range, a big putting green, and an excellent chipping and pitching area. I stayed for a couple of hours working on different phases of my game.

At one point I sat on the deck and ordered a cup of coffee. A nice waitress brought me the overpriced cup and must have felt guilty. A few minutes later she came back with more coffee in a cup for me to take to the practice area. These acts of kindness are always appreciated.

Later we walked along Tumwater Falls to watch the Salmon making their way upstream. There were hundreds, maybe thousands of them. There was a fish ladder on river right, but some of the salmon hadn’t figured out the route yet and were trying to jump the falls.

Back home we watched Rafael Nadal begin to dismantle Juan Martin del Potro before we had to go to dinner at Mercato, the excellent local Italian restaurant. We all had egg plant ravioli which was excellent along with Caesar’s salad and spumoni for dessert

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Stories from the Road

Stories from the road
September 8, 2017
Olympia, WA



The air had cooled, and there was little smoke when Marle and I teed off in Centralia, Washington at the Riverside Golf Course.  Early on the going was tedious due to a crowded course with slow golfers.  After the first nine, we decided to play holes 1-9 over, as the second nine was backed up.  This worked out.

It was fun to see the mini farms that were adjacent to the course. Old buildings, dated pickup trucks, and rows of corn made for nice vistas. We stopped at the Under Armor outlet store after golf, but I bought nothing.  The colors were garish, and the “discounts” were sketchy.

Later Marle and I watched a semi final tennis match at the U.S. Open between Venus Williams and Sloane Stephens. The match was all over the place with both women having long lapses. In the end, it was Sloane’s consistency that sealed her win. She was also deceptively quick. It is fun to see a new rising star in the tennis world. It was also meaningful to see two African Americans playing in a semi final at a major tennis tournament in the United States.

Dinner later was at the Budd Bay Café in Olympia. Our waitress had an edge, and it was fun to banter with her. When she brought my martini, she listed all my “requirements”, and we had a good laugh. As we obsessed about what to order I told her that she would be glad when we cleared out of her place.

I am looking out at Ken Lake where visiting geese have settled for a short time. The lake is smooth with reflected trees on the water. Osprey and eagles frequently fly overhead looking for fish. No motors are allowed on the small lake, and it is quiet and peaceful.

All Saints

Last night in Olympia I saw the movie, “All Saints”, for the refreshingly low senior rate of $8.00. The movie tells the true story of an Anglican priest who befriends and cares for a group of Karen refugees from Myanmar. In the process, he learns about himself and others.

Though somewhat simplistic and idealized, the movie is timely in light of what is going on in the United States. Not only does it raise many questions about the administrations’ stance on refugees, but it reinforces the values of courage, compassion, altruism, and adherence to principle, values which seem to be lacking in the G.O.P.

Stories from the Road

Stories from the road

September 4, 2017

Olympia, WA

It was hot and muggy in the Northwest today.  After breakfast at a local bakery, Marle and I headed for the public golf course in Tumwater for practice, while Vicki and her sister Maria went to walk in a nearby nature preserve. I moved from the pitching green to the sand trap to the range with mixed results.  Finally, we rolled some putts before driving to Cabela’s outdoor store in Lacey.

 Cabela’s features hunting and fishing gear and to go there is a cultural experience. The crowd is different than that in The North Face or Patagonia Stores, but no less interesting. In the parking lot, a breeder had brought two chocolate lab puppies to sell. They were fabulous dogs, and it was a huge temptation to take one home. The owner was very nice and seemed to be a responsible dog person.



Inside the store, people were examining fishing gear, boats, and of course, guns.  The pistol section seemed to be especially popular. All the pistols I had seen in police movies were there in addition to many I had never heard of. The customers were also diverse. I passed a large tattooed lady, who seemed to be a serious shopper. A young couple was intently looking at a Glock.  There seemed to be some tension in the air as if some North Koreans might come charging through the store at any minute.

For lunch, we went to the nearby Curry House, an Indian restaurant that was exceptional. For $9.50 we had luncheon specials, which were delicious and easily stretched to provide another meal. Later Vicki and Maria canoed around the lake, while I rested.


Tomorrow Vicki, Marle, and I will play golf at Salish Cliffs, one of my favourite courses. Attached to an Indian Casino, the course winds through the woods providing a wilderness setting to a challenging course.

Stories from the Road

Stories from the Road

September 3, 2017

Olympia, WA

Saturday I got up and began to gather my stuff together for our flight to Seattle. Everything was going smoothly except out flight, which was cancelled in the middle of the night. They were sending us north a day later at 6:20 AM.  How can that be? That is what I wondered, and I was told that the crew arrived in San Diego late, and they need required rest before they could fly again. I was struck by the fact that Alaska airlines took no ownership of the problem. They still charged us for our bags, and no one offered free snacks! It is fortunate that we didn’t need to be anywhere by a certain time. Tomorrow I will write a letter to the airline.

 

It is hot here in Washington State.  Vicki’s sister lives on a lake, so there is some breeze coming off the water. Earlier we drove to the harbour, where tug boat races were taking place. The highlight for me was watching some large Salmon waiting for the tide to rise before they made some jumps to get upstream.

Over the years I have seen Olympia transition from a blue collar/counter culture town to a place popular with tourists and local main streamers. Situated at the end of Puget Sound, it is a scenic town with lots of outdoor activities on and off the water. Towards the end of the afternoon, we walked through a farmers’ market with lots of interesting produce, food stands, and local entertainment. That is always a treat.

On the bus this morning from the parking garage to the airport an anxious woman talked non-stop. She was flying to meet her pregnant daughter, who was slated to return to San Diego. Living with an abusive man, the daughter had tried to leave before to no avail. Different family members had bought her five airline tickets, which she hadn’t used. Mother was hopeful, but I wasn’t so much. We wished her good luck as we exited the bus with our bags and golf clubs.

Gomorrah

Gomorrah is a dark series from Netflix. Now in its second season, the show tells the story of drug running gangs in poor neighborhoods in Naples. It is not for everyone, as the characters are violent and cruel. However,

the intertwining themes of family, religion, brotherhood, and crime make for fascinating viewing.