odds and ends of life

I've been reading in first Nephi, trying to catch up to the three month read the Book of Mormon schedule on the I have a testimony blog. I've seen several things that are worth observing, but my most prominent feeling so far is that of identification with Laman and Lemuel. That's not something I thought I would say. :)

The feeling I have is that Laman and Lemuel weren't setting out to be "bad" people. Rather, they chose not to pursue the things of God, despite being exposed to that influence repeatedly and deeply. Not unlike those who grow up in the church, but because they rarely dig in and search, wind up not understanding their own upbringing and being even more hardened because of it. A deep understanding of the gospel is paramount to our ability to live it well when faced with adversity.

When I choose, it should be with real input from God via personal revelation rather than his presumed approval because I'm "good people, and surely God will bless me." If I don't understand his course, I'm less likely to follow it because I've only done my good, not his best.

***

Took a little time off this week over Spring Break. Played some golf (well, even), tried to hang out with the wife and children. I don't do that very well, sometimes. :( It really is an adjustment some days to go from work to time with family - the conversations are loud (as kids do), there's awkwardness in regaining familiarity, and it upsets the daily routine to have dad around during the day. All in all, it didn't go as well as I'd hoped. I was still glad to have tried - but I sometimes feel like a stranger in my own home. It takes a 2-3 days for me to get used to being there, and for them to start to cling to me like they do momma.

***

I carded an eagle on one of the par fives on Wednesday. 535 yards, went driver, 215 left for a seven wood, and one putt from 15 feet.

Next hole was a 185 yard par three. Ran a four hybrid over the hole to eight feet, just missing (yet again) a hole in one. The number of near misses I've had is staggering - half a dozen have finished inside six inches. Another dozen or so have run across the hole or lipped off to less than five feet. So that one didn't even qualify as close, really. :\

Shot 76 on the day.

georgia on my mind

A couple of pictures from the trip to Georgia. The course we played was The Frog, just west of Atlanta. Took awhile to get there by car, but it was well worth the trip.

Naturally we did things other than golf as well. I'll add a handful of other photos later. Was well worth the trip, and it was good to see Clay and Sarah and their children. Turned out to be cheap for cost as well, which is a bonus.

On arriving home and getting up the next morning, Apple ate breakfast with me and we watched part of a movie snuggled up on the couch together. She's been fighting a cold since the day I left. It was good to see the children and my wife again.

i am a crazy golfer

I am one of those crazy golfer people.

Several friends and I have a tradition of golf on New Year's Day. Some of the courses around here are closed that day, but the pro shop will quietly concede to letting groups play without supervision and without carts. And so we did. Golf is meant to be played without carts anyway - one of my peeves.

Tee time this morning: 35 degrees, with a 15mph wind. Felt like 25. Not the worst, but definitely no picnic. I enjoyed it. But...

I also had a new top secret secret weapon: my Under Armour style cold weather undies (fleece lined compression pants and shirt). Mine are by Starter (Nike), bought on the cheap at Walmart. I love them! Definitely a great golf investment. At 45*, I should be able to play in comfort and without many extra layers. Extra layers (especially thicker ones) are doom for a golf swing. Today's lower half was just the compression pants and a pair of jeans. Upper half was the undershirt, a turtleneck, and a long sleeve golf shirt. I wore a fleece beanie and took my jacket off for shots - as it warmed up to 40, I left it off.

So I shot an ugly +6 that should have been closer to +3, save for poor putting and general freezy butt coldness - the greens were still frozen early on. Warm undies can't fix putting. :(

Lora says the undies give me the look of a really hot woman's butt. I'm not sure what to make of that. At least I have one now, where I didn't growing up. :\