Friday, October 31, 2008

Halloween with my sexy coworkers

I wanted to join my boss and my coworkers in these disco outfits, but the store was out of my size. So I settled for the hippie look. You can't see my cool hippie boots in this photo.

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Age gracefully? I don't think so.

So today I'm going to brag a bit. I played basketball again with the young guys at lunch. A few are in their 40's, but most are in the 23 to 37 range, or about 20 to 34 years younger than me. I can't move quite as fast as some of them, but I defend pretty well and make a shot every once in a while. After 6 months of playing full court basketball - 3 hours a week - I'm now, acording to the young guys, "in damn good shape for an old man".



Not sure when I decided this, but I have no intention of aging gracefully. I'll be kicking and screaming - but smiling - all the way to the grave. No old man golf carts for me. No way I'm going to be out of breath after two flights of stairs. Relaxed fit jeans? No way! I'm working on getting my waist down to - not college size - high school size.

One of my role models is the weathered old guy - probably 70 - who last year zoomed past me half way up Arizona's Peralta Trail on the way to Weaver's Needle. Another is Ken Mink, the 73 year old guy now playing college basketball. If they can Just Do It! after 7 decades, then why shouldn't I as well?

http://msn.foxsports.com/cbk/story/8710842?MSNHPHCP&GT1=39002




Ken Mink is living his college hoops dream at the age of 73. (Saul Young/Knoxville News Sentinel / Special to FOXSports.com)

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Good reason for a tattoo?



I’m not a big fan of bold tattoos, but I’m not bothered by small ones. It’s not something I would do, but perhaps that’s just a generational thing. Many of my flower child era did paint images on their faces and bodies, but rarely took the risk of a permanent decoration.

There’s a story behind most of the images on the tattoo-adorned younger folks I talk with. I don’t always appreciate the significance of the tales. But this weekend I did agree with one girl’s reasoning.

Kristi, one of the attractive beverage cart girls at my local golf course, showed me a couple of her tattoos as she was filling my drink order. I had not noticed before the blue star on each of her ears, similar to the blue star on Bjork’s neck in this image. Blue stars in north Texas are certainly common, as this is Cowboys country.

Kristi explained that her aunt had been one of the original Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders in 1972 or 1973. She had been close to her aunt all her life, and deeply felt her loss when the aunt died a few years ago. So Kristi honored her aunt by having a blue star tattooed on each earlobe. This seemed an acceptable reason for a tattoo, one of the best I’ve heard.

Do you have a tattoo? Will you share its significance?

Monday, October 27, 2008

Tee Time, my four legged friend

Tee-Time is the name of a mostly Jack Russell terrier abandoned near the Grapevine Municipal Golf Course in the summer of 2007. Tee-Time adopted the golf course as her new home, and the staff and golfers have adopted Tee-Time as well.

We’ve never been able to catch Tee-Time, or even pet her. Someone must have abused the poor animal in a previous life, and she steadfastly refuses to trust any golfer or staffer. But she gladly accepts French fries and peanut butter crackers and sandwich crusts from anyone. The owner of the grill quickly realized that buying dog food was a smart move, as it sharply reduced the number of sandwiches the beverage cart girls determined to be too stale for humans.

When I play at the course, I always carry dog biscuits or liver treats or some other canine delicacy in my bag. After two years, Tee Time has come to recognize me as a major donor. So she follows me for the entire 18 hole round. Usually she just stares at me, longingly awaiting the next treat. On the few occasions when I’ve jogged to catch up with my riding companions, Tee Time runs alongside of me. If I neglect to reward her loyalty for a hole or two, Tee Time nips at my heel to remind me.

Tee Time rules the golf course, her private little kingdom. She can often be seen chasing squirrels back into trees and ducks back into ponds. Occasionally a large goose will challenge her, thinking that, at a mere 12 pounds, Tee Time will back down,. Not a chance.

Tee Time must have experienced love at one point in her prior life. I’ve been told that a very young boy visited the course recently, and was able to pet her and scratch her belly. When small children accompany a parent to the driving range, Tee Time stops all begging activity and stares intently and longingly at the little people from 50 feet away – sometimes for 30 minutes or more.

I love this little dog. I wish more than anything she’d let me show her how much.