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Post by stlhawk on Mar 2, 2024 18:15:52 GMT -5
All-Time Points: 11,524,344
5: Trips 6: Same 7: Sunburst 8: Hexagon
Our Tempur Pedic only had a 10 year warranty, and so does this one. Still love it and the deal at Costco was really good. We even have one in the spare bedroom that is still in great shape.
Despite my complaining, I am coping pretty well and am getting more bold in drawing lines in the sand. No one has ever accused me of being bashful. Mrs. Hawk on the other end, is at her wits end.
You definitely sound ready for the upcoming season and your practice is very strategic and targeted. This will be a banner year for you on the course!
Just curious. You are golfing quite a bit. Does Mrs. SUV have hobbies that keep her busy while you are away or does she just enjoy the peace and quiet?
My not competing this year was very strategic. This is the first year of the event and the rules are very non specific. Sitting on the sidelines helps me understand the process better. Second, I did not have the time or motivation to properly prepare. If I had competed, judging by the stories that were told and how they were delivered, I think I would have placed in the top 3 out of 10, but not first. Probably most importantly, everyone used their best story this year. Mine is still fresh and this group has not heard it. If any of them use the same story next year, it will not have the same impact it did this year.
My daughter called last night and invited me to have drinks with her and her BF before they went out to dinner. Had a really nice time.
Happy Saturday!!!
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Post by SUVFan on Mar 5, 2024 19:29:55 GMT -5
All-Time Points: 12,603,894 5 Number hand: 03894 -- 9 high 6 Number hand: 603894 -- No help 7 Number hand: 2603894 -- Even 8 Number hand: 12603894 -- Wrapped Clarity
Love the practical strategery for skipping the competition!
I'm sure the dinner was fun!
It's got to be tough for Mrs. Hawk to deal with. Unlike you, she's got years and years of interaction with them and, as the saying goes, "Time heals all wounds" but it's also accurate that "Time wounds all heals." Intergenrational living is closely associated with the latter.
I played a fairly difficult course yesterday with a group of guys. The weather was perfect! I ended up with a 44-38-82, by far my best score there in a half dozen rounds. The 38 is remarkable considering that I opened the back 9 with a really dumb double. I was in perfect shape to birdie the par 5, about 75 yards from the pin in 2. Then I blew my gap wedge over the green and chili dipped two chips. I rebounded with a good drive but left the approach short and went long with my chip up about 20 feet to a small, elevated green. I was 7 feet into the fringe but chose to putt down a very slippery slope. It broke about a foot left of the hole but I had under two feet for my bogey. Whew!
Then the magic started! I went par-birdie-par-par-par-par on the next 6 holes and finished with an unlucky bogey. I'd say I should have made at least two more birdies but then I'd have to give back the improbably one I made. That was a left to right breaking 28 footer that found the right edge of the hole and dropped in. I made two other putts -- one to save par and the other to save bogey -- from outside 20 feet. Still, it hurt to miss two birdies from inside 5 feet. The others that I missed were outside of 10 feet, so no heartburn resulted from those.
It definitely bodes well for this season!
Catch you back here next week -- have a good one!
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Post by stlhawk on Mar 5, 2024 20:06:52 GMT -5
All-Time Points: 11,535,344
5: Two Pair 6: Spork 7: Same 8: Square Dance
As I predicted, things are really falling in place with your golf game. This is the first of many great rounds. You are really going to enjoy this summer. Congratulations!!!
Guess I did something wrong because my MIL has barely talked to me the past two days. Sunday I challenged a couple statements she made and there was no way she could prove her point. Both times she just said "let's change the subject." When my wife asked if it bothered me she wasn't talking to me I simply said no, I am enjoying the silence. She just laughed and I think was jealous. My MIL did start talking to me again tonight.
Spoke at a conference yesterday here in St. Louis. It was put on by two organizations, the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) and the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA). I was their closing speaker and talked to them about the finer points of public speaking and how to connect to your audience.
After class tomorrow, I do not have to go back until a week from Monday. Next week is spring break. Kind of weird telling people I am on spring break.
Happy Tuesday!!!
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Post by SUVFan on Mar 12, 2024 19:27:49 GMT -5
All-Time Points: 12,623,594 5 Number hand: 23594 -- 9 high 6 Number hand: 623594 -- No help 7 Number hand: 2623594 -- Dire straights 8 Number hand: 12623594 -- Replicator
So you're on Spring Break! Florida?
Well, the break was nice while it lasted. Has she been less outspoken since she started speaking to you again?
Yesterday at TG, I was playing well, managing a 79 on virtual Spanish Bay. But my game sure went south today. Not even a par until the 16th. Made another on 17 after my 60+ foot putt stopped a foot past the hole. Not sure how many doubles but there were at least 2. Bad rounds are bound to happen.
Walked through the yard today. Won't be long until I'm firing up the mower. Mid March is kinda early. Still better than clearing snow!
Have a great week!
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Post by stlhawk on Mar 12, 2024 19:51:03 GMT -5
All-Time Points: 11,559,119
5: Two Pair 6: Spork 7: Duplex 8: Borg
Just think how rough it would have been if you hadn't been creative and found ways to practice throughout the winter. You will bounce back quickly.
Same with my yard. The sprinklers do not get turned on for another 3 weeks or so. It may need cutting before then. The county makes us do an annual backflow preventer test so you pretty much have to hire someone to do it.
MY MIL is really limiting what she says to me. Just getting frustrated having them here 2 months already and knowing it will be at least that long before they move out.
I have my bird photo trip in a few weeks so that will get me away for about 4 days. Also looking at some other mini trips I can take to get some R&R.
Happy Tuesday!!!
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Post by SUVFan on Mar 14, 2024 20:24:17 GMT -5
All-Time Points: 12,630,594 5 Number hand: 30594 -- 9 high 6 Number hand: 630594 -- No help 7 Number hand: 2630594 -- Straight 8 Number hand: 12630594 -- Replicator
I've never had a sprinkler system but I've never heard of any inspection requirement here.
Intergenerational living is really difficult. I'm sure it's hard for them, too. Plus, they have whatever medical/physical issues led to it. The photo trip and other getaways are good ideas.
I'm sure I'd have had some awful holes a year or two ago that would have made the score even worse. Also, the "Be a goldfish" mentality I've worked hard to adopt probably helped make the late round pars possible. Yesterday, I played 2 balls per hole on the short 9 hole course and shot a 79. The round included two birdies. Today, I played Blacklick and struggled on the front but managed to shoot 6 over par on the back, including a 45 foot chip in for birdie! Any round with a birdie is a good round! But I'm coming over the top on some of my tee shots and need to work on that.
The weatherguessers are having a great night. There's a tornado warning for a fairly remote part of the viewing area and they've interrupted normal programming to show off what they don't know about weather. They act like they hope a tornado won't materialize but they sure get excited about the nastiest radar images. It seems to be weakening but you can tell they're hopeful they can continue to make the viewers mad -- they keep saying they know they'll get a bunch of emails complaining about the coverage.
Have a great weekend!
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Post by stlhawk on Mar 15, 2024 6:50:41 GMT -5
All-Time Points: 11,566,544
5: Two Pair 6: Spork 7: Same 8: Square Dance
You seem to be getting quite a few more birdies than in the past and they seem to be coming every round. Last year they were a little less frequent.
It is really frustrating for my MIL. She is continually confused and basically does nothing all day. I hope I never get to that point.
The yearly backflow inspection is a sweetheart deal the onions and local politicians made decades ago under the guise of safety.
The weather clowns had a field day here yesterday as well. The tornado sirens went off two different times yesterday, once in the morning and once around dinner time. Thankfully, no tornados materialized here. The afternoon storm did bring massive thunderstorms with large hail, a lot of it golf ball sized. The hail was not in my area but a where my parents, sister, and son live. It blew our car windows all over. A lot of my friends on FB posted pics of the damage to their cars and homes. Guess insurance rates will be going up even more.
I think I told you here that I met my daughter and her BF for drinks a couple weeks ago. My daughter picked out a bottle of wine she really likes that night and I thought it would be nice to get a bottle to give her when a special occasion comes up. I went to a local wine store and asked if they had it. They didn't, but said they could order it for me. I also found it online. Amazing how the cost varies. At the restaurant, the bottle was $56. Online, it was $35 a bottle and you had to buy a case and pay shipping. Getting it through the wine store was only $21.99.
Mrs. Hawk left for KC yesterday and will not be back till Sunday night so I am alone with her parents. She is working on getting the house ready to sell. I have adjusted even more and spend most of my time either in a different room or running short errands. I just check on them every now and then.
Happy Friday!!!
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Post by SUVFan on Mar 16, 2024 15:43:10 GMT -5
5 Number hand: 35094 -- 9 high 6 Number hand: 635094 -- No help 7 Number hand: 2635094 -- Straight 8 Number hand: 12635094 -- Replicator
Restaurant markup for a bottle of wine is usually between double and triple until you get to pricier bottles. So that price sounds about right. I don't know anything about online pricing for wine.
Hopefully things go well with your inlaws during Mrs. Hawk's absence. And may she make a lot of progress toward a sale!
Birdies seem to come in bunches and I had a pretty good week! Though I did have that one round -- the 76 -- last year with 5 of them! I've had 10 so far this year and half of them have been this month, averaging a little better than 1 every other round.
It was sunny this morning so I went to my Tuesday 9 hole course and walked it. I was first out and played 2 balls the whole way again. I did struggle early but got the ship righted, eventually. No birdies, but I did have two outstanding bogey saves -- a 27 foot putt dropped on the dreaded 6th and I holed a chip on the 8th from 37 feet. A 12 foot putt on the 8th (the other ball) was my best shot at birdie but it slid past the hole. Afterwards, I went to the putting green and spent some time chipping and putting, continuing to get comfortable with the cross handed grip.
Weather's headed south, so no golf tomorrow and TG on Monday!
Have a great St. Patrick's Day!
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Post by stlhawk on Mar 16, 2024 20:35:26 GMT -5
All-Time Points: 11,567,894
5: Nine High 6: Fremont Street 7: Same 8: It's Vegas Baby
The improvement is obvious over last year, even when you do not get any birdies. Your improvement over the past two years has been phenomenal!
Enjoy your day off Sunday and TG on Monday!!!
Today was the pinewood derby for two of my granddaughters. Instead of a competition for just one troop, this was for all the girls in the eastern Missouri district council. Even though they use cub scout pinewood derby kits, they call it a powderpuff derby instead. Sounds sexist to me but I will not go there.
Both did well. My son's middle girl placed first for the Daisy Scouts. Her average time for 6 races was 3.1574 seconds. Second place was 3.1811 and third was 3.1865 so she won by a pretty good margin. My oldest granddaughter placed third in her age group and missed second by 2 ten thousandths of a second. Overall a great day for them.
My new computer should be here Tuesday. I have Amazon delivering it to the Whole Foods by my house instead of directly here. Not sure if I will be home Tuesday when it arrives and do not want porch pirates to cause problems.
Happy Saturday!!!
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Post by SUVFan on Mar 18, 2024 18:38:23 GMT -5
5 Number hand: 40894 -- 4s 6 Number hand: 640894 -- No help 7 Number hand: 2640894 -- Even 8 Number hand: 12640894 -- Wrapped Truth
Congrats to your gks for their Ppuff (PP didn't work . . . .) Derby finishes!
Good call sending it to Amazon's grocery store. Think about a disguise of some sort to pick it up as that place is definitely not our turf!
Thanks, again for your encouragement.
TG today was fun! All of my drives were solid and I had a level par 35 on the front 9 of virtual Spanish Bay. The back nine fell off a little but I still ended up 5 over for the full round. One birdie, one double, so 4 bogeys and a dozen pars. Importantly, no mulligans! As noted before, I'm well aware that's not what I'd shoot if I played it for real. The lies at TG are always flat and the carpet is like a mowed fairway. I also suspect the wind would be a much bigger factor. And then there's the greens! Still, a 77 is one of my better virtual scores and I was hitting the ball pretty well.
I had a great time over the weekend watching The Players' Championship. I'll be posting more about it in the golf thread but World #1 Scottie Scheffler was simply amazing. A neck injury that he suffered during Friday's round nearly took him out -- he said he was in significant pain just turning his head on putts. But he stuck it out on Friday and played himself into contention on Saturday, birdieing the last 3 holes to land 5 strokes off the lead heading into the final round. On Sunday, he started slowly, making pars on the first 3 holes that are among the easiest on the course. But figurative lightning struck on the 4th. He holed out from 92 yards for an eagle 2! His ball landed about a foot from the hole and spun sideways, trickling into the hole. By the 7th he had closed to just one shot off the lead. There was some cat and mouse on the back 9 but by the time he was done, he walked off with a 64 and a one shot lead that held up as the day's starting leaders finished.
One guy came very close to sending it to a playoff but his putt lipped out -- a golf channel commentator on their post round show described it as the cruelest lip out he'd ever witnessed. The 17 foot putt was breaking toward a pond on the golfer's left and had enough speed to have traveled at least 3, maybe 4 feet or more past the hole. It looked like he'd played for about a foot of break. It just caught the left edge of the cup, did a 180° turn and popped out, stopping 6 inches in front of the hole. About half the ball was below the surface of the green at one point but the putt needed to have been played with either a half an inch more break or it needed to be hit about 6 inches of speed harder. As the saying goes, close, but no cigar!
Sheffler is an outstanding ambassador for golf. Still in his 20s, he hadn't won a PGA event until last year. Now he's an 8 time winner! He became the first player to win back to back Players trophies in the tourney's 50 year history. He is completely humble and unassuming, totally down to earth. He has no social media presence. When he hits a great shot, such as that hole out, he'll exchange a high 5 with his caddy or a competitor, but he doesn't strut around pumping his fist and screaming his head off. He just acts like he's been there before. Very refreshing. He has not won a major but I like him to win the Masters next month.
Have a great week!
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Post by stlhawk on Mar 19, 2024 17:21:00 GMT -5
All-Time Points: 11,577,544
5: Two Pair 6: Spork 7: Same 8: Square Dance
Forget where I was Sunday when I heard what an exciting final round and finish it was. Most of the time I am content with just hearing or reading about the results of sporting events. Occasionally I will watch, but not too often unless I am somewhere eating or drinking like DRV and it is on one of the TVs.
Still haven't tried TG although it is on my list. May have missed my opportunity for X Golf. They had the friends and family event Saturday. I was one of the deans for Speaker's Academy from 8 - 1 and then drove out to my granddaughters event. By the time I finished I was too tired to go. The owners like me a lot so there may be another opportunity down the road.
Talked to the manager at Mount Pleasant and he is going to let me inside to take pictures of their production equipment and some other cellars for my school project. Will probably go Wednesday or Friday. Need some new pictures by Monday.
Frustrated with Amazon. My computer is scheduled to arrive today but it is 5:15 and it still isn't here. I know they said it would be here by 10 pm, but usually things arrive by no later than mid afternoon. Not much I can do other than wait for the email telling me it has arrived.
Mrs. Hawk is going back to KC again this weekend. Hopefully she will be able to get the house on the market after this trip.
Happy Tuesday!!!
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Post by SUVFan on Mar 21, 2024 18:03:20 GMT -5
All-Time Points: 12,650,394 5 Number hand: 50394 -- 9 high 6 Number hand: 650394 -- No help 7 Number hand: 2650394 -- Straight 8 Number hand: 12650394 -- Replicator
Probably not a great time to head over to Amazon Grocery that late, though it would get you out of the house . . . . so there's that! Hopefully Mrs. Hawk can make enough progress to move things along.
Sounds like MP stepped up and had earned a few visits!
I'm sure you could drop in to X Golf to check it out. You could set it up for a time the owners will be there and not necessarily play, just to see what it's all about. As for TG, I don't know about the one near you but the Cbus location still offers all you can hit at $15/person and I think they've expanded the half price bay price that applies on Tuesdays to M-W via the app somehow. I don't follow it closely b/c my membership is good all weekdays from open until 5 pm.
It's still hard to believe that Clark's putt didn't fall. I'm sure it's really tough for him. Brutally cruel. Here's a clip of Scottie Scheffler's first look at it:
It's very rare that golf produces a moment like that.
It's been cold and windy here but I was able to get over to TG yesterday and today and get in some good work. Managed an 80 on virtual Pebble Beach yesterday though I was only 2 over on the front and blew up a little on the back. Seeing a ton of progress in the game but still so much that needs attention. If the weather guesser turns out to be close, gonna try to walk 18 tomorrow. Developing.
Have a great weekend!
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Post by stlhawk on Mar 21, 2024 19:19:03 GMT -5
All-Time Points: 11,581,844
5: Two Pair 6: Same 7: Spork 8: Duplex
Thanks for the video clip. Heard about it but was too lazy to go look for it. What a tough break.
I am sure they would let me try out X Golf. Busy the next week or so but will probably ask after that.
There will be tough days at TG now and then, but overall, things are good. You are not a pro so yes, there will always be several things to work on.
Met with my mom and her financial advisor today. He has done a phenomenal job for them over the years. Seriously thinking about changing. Mine is doing well, but not as good as my parents advisor. It will all eventually come down to how much do I really need and is it worth the hassle and awkwardness of changing from someone that I like. I have enough to live comfortably and still pass on a good sum to my children and grandchildren. Plus, both of my children have saved well over the years.
Received the verdict on my laptop this afternoon. It is not economically feasible to troubleshoot it and figure out which hardware component is keeping it from booting up. The 500 GB SSD is intact and they are able to copy everything I need from it. Although about 90% of it was backed up elsewhere, and nothing critical wasn't backed up yet, it will be nice to get the things that weren't saved elsewhere.
My new laptop came about 30 minutes after my post. Still setting it up. Was holding off on downloading several programs until I knew the status of the old one. It is an easy, but slow process to get it set up the way I want it.
Happy Thursday!!!
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Post by SUVFan on Mar 23, 2024 18:03:14 GMT -5
All-Time Points: 12,653,094 5 Number hand: 53094 -- 9 high 6 Number hand: 653094 -- No help 7 Number hand: 2653094 -- Straight 8 Number hand: 12653094 -- Replicator
Same numbers, higher total.
Switching financial advisors is a big step. If you like the one you have and the investments have done well, there's no guarantee your parents' advisor will outperfrom going forward. But if the difference in performance is that significant, even though you like your current advisor, they might not be that great. Regardless of how well they're doing, no one wants to feel like their investments are underperforming.
Recovering the data was the key. A backup would be nice but not if the fix was pricey.
Overall, my golf is definitely trending up. Not unlike an investment portfolio, it's not a straight line thing. Really, the key is not getting frustrated on the days things are not working so well and finding a way to score anyway and avoid making dumb mistakes. Golf mimics life that way.
I had planned to play 18 yesterday but the guesser overguessed and it ended up cold, windy and by the time I'd have been on the back 9, drizzly. Glad I went to TG instead. There, I struggled with the closest to the pin game but settled down on virtual Pebble Beach with a birdie on each side and an 81 overall.
The last hole was typical. I'd hit a poor tee shot and my second shot carried only a few yards due to a hill I couldn't see on the screen but that the computer knew about. So after 2 shots, I was almost where I should be distance wise after a decent drive. I could reach the green with a perfect 3W but I'd have to cover some really tall stuff to get there. I'd get no roll if I didn't clear it. Normally, I'd have aimed a little bit left but the tall stuff went further there. So I aimed at the flag, knowing it probably would drift right. I ended up with a 37 yard chip, which I got within 2 yards of the pin and made the "putt" for a bogey 6. Even though it's a virtual round, this is the same thought process that's needed on an actual course to protect the score.
Hope the weekend is going well!
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Post by stlhawk on Mar 23, 2024 20:08:25 GMT -5
All-Time Points: 11,588,544
5: Two pair 6: Spork 7: Same 8: Square Dance
We both know that it is risky to rely on the weather clowns to be accurate. It's always nice to have a plan B.
You really like to play the Pebble Beach at TG. I was there twice in the 90's just because I was taking in the 17 mile drive. It is beautiful there. Both times we were able to stop at the clubhouse and have a shrimp cocktail while overlooking the course. Used to have a Pebble Beach polo shirt as well, but that is long gone.
You have said it many times, golf is mostly in that 6 inches between your ears so working on the mental aspect at TG is helpful.
The financial advisor dilemma has several subplots as well. One is that my parents financial advisor only plans on working about 10 more years, where my current advisor is about 20 years younger than me and should be around a lot longer. For the past three years I have been accompanying my parents to their meetings with their financial advisor and have established a good relationship with him. He is a lot more detailed than my current advisor, which I like. I will also have to decide when my parents pass on if I combine everything into one account or keep what I inherit from my parents there with their current advisor and my other account with the current person. Both have done well, and as you said, current performance does not necessarily mean future earnings will be the same. The good news is that I am in no rush to make a decision.
Took my son and his family to the airport early this morning. They are heading to my favorite state to visit my ex wife's side of the family. Seeing my son and DIL trying to get 4 young kids ready for the trip early in the morning makes me glad I only had two. It also reminded me that I do not miss those adventures.
Been trying to lose some of the weight I have gained recently and was doing well till last weekend. I hit a brick wall. The good news is that I broke through the wall this morning when I weighed myself and I think I know why. Hopefully I continue to head in the right direction.
Happy Saturday!!!
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