Wisdom from a golf magazine?

Reading Golf Digest last night I didn't really expect to contemplate life but in the 'lessons' section I read this:

"Commitment allows freedom from second-guessing"

The instructor was talking about having confidence in the shot you are taking, striking the ball well, and even if you hit the ball poorly shaking it off knowing the next shot will be much better.

It just struck me that being committed to something or to someone allows me to feel supreme confidence in the work that Christ has set before me. He knows the plans he has are for prosper, and not for harm, and that all I need to do is commit to following, and as a result second-guessing is not an option. I can't say I've had that confidence much lately.

The applications are nearly unlimited for such an open-ended phrase, but that's what I got out of it. Hopefully Golf Digest can help you as well.

Yummy.

If you see this woman do not kiss her.

Why I like the weekend.....

...because I can go to a bachelor party, have fun, laugh hysterically, stuff myself, and let a really great guy know how much his life has impacted others, and how much we all love him.

...I have the opportunity to go out to lake, get on the water, and sail. (I am learning, thanks to Austin. It's a pretty awesome. I need a lot more experience. Austin is so good he can see the wind!)

...my backyard was full of people that I know, and a few that I didn't. We had some hamburgers, some orzo, a little peanut butter pie, and some melty ice cream. It just feels good to have a part in strengthing people friendships, and creating new ones.

Notes from the road.

No, I am not away from home, but I've been out driving, as is required in our sprawl of a city, and I've noticed a few things that are very interesting.

a. People talking on their cell phones while exercising. One gentleman, who was formerly riding his bike, was at a stop light leaning up against his bike having a full-fledged conversation about who knows what, but clearly it must have been more important than keeping his cardiovascular system working at an increased rate.

In the same genre there were two ladies walking side by side in the vicinity of Brookside. These people clearly use exercise in a very different manner than I do. I like to relax and remove myself from the connectivity of a cell phone, or email for awhile. They take the opportunity to be more connected. It just bothers me.

b. The poor bastard/bastardette who is standing at the intersection pleading with every passing car to come get a free cup of coffee, a pizza for $5, a great deal at the store closing. I just feel so bad for them. Granted it was his/her choice to work, and I respect that, but it's painful (in a mostly humorous way) to watch them parade up and down the sidewalk being ignored. I think that must be why it bothers me, because never once has the placard bearer ever changed my mind.

Head west young man.

I moved back to Kansas yesterday. I suck at moving. I wasn't going that far, so I threw everythig into about 5 boxes and some duffle bags. Nothing was even remotely protected or secured, but I haven't found anything broken yet, which is good. Now it is all stacked up in the middle of my new room. I don't think I'll ever get organized.

BoSox v. Cubs

What a great weekend!

My good friend Brad got married on Friday night to a great girl, Bethany. It's particularly special (in my opinion) because they have been dating since sometime just after they were both out of diapers. Things like that seem to happen less, and less, so when it works it's very special.

Shortly after I got home from the wedding I left for Chicago (4am wake-up call is not a good idea) to enjoy weekend of baseball with my friend Jason. FYI, it was a bit of a historic weekend as the Red Sox & Cubs played one another for the first time since somewhere near 1918. It was my first trip to the friendly confines of Wrigley, and it did not dissapoint. My first MLB game was at Fenway the oldest stadium still in use, so it was nice to compare it to the second oldest. They really have similar atmospheres, a certainly electricity and excitement you will not find at the K here in KC, unless you are living in 1985. Anyway, it was good to be at a stadium where folks are going to watch a baseball game, not just using the ballpark as a social outing. The Cubs took 2 of 3 from the BoSox, but Wakefield came out of a mini-slump and had the knuckler dancing. Johnny D and Kevin Youkilis (the Greek god of walks) each were one leg short of the cycle, and Manny hit one out breaking big cold streak in the Red Sox win.




We also ate a ton of great food and enjoyed the company of great friends. I rode the 'L' for the first time, ate at The Billy Goat tavern, and experienced Wrigleyville. Like I said, great weekend.

Moron

This was the only way i could figure out how to put a picuture on my profile. I am not smart.

i NEED more music

i've got some credit over at the iTunes store. how should i use it?

Surprise!!!!

This is me entering my birthday party. Notice the tie is tucked into the shirt in order to work on a broken toilet. I look like a damn fool.

Belated Birthday Retrospective

It was also my birthday in May, but it deserves a special post. Not because I think I am important, but because it was a very unique year. I turned 25 on the 25th, the aniversary birthday, the golden birthday, there are many different names for it.

At any rate this year was one of my top 5 birthdays ever. The workday was not productive, because at about 9am out came the birthday cake (2 layer yellow cake with chocolate frosting and sprinkles, yumm!) I was often interrupted by phone calls and emails from friends telling me how old and mature I must feel now. I was taken to lunch by friends who I lived with at K-State (mitch, brad, matt, and david: Thanks again gents!). We went to KC Mastetpiece. (it was the first time i'd ever been there, but it was good)

The afternoon the same as the morning. Low on productivity, high on cake and ice cream, etc.

I went to my parents house for dinner steak and mashed potatoes. They showered me with love, and affection, and a few tangible items including and iPod Shuffle, which is sweet.

The evening was complete after a trip to Houlihans to enjoy a beverage, and the company of a lot of great friends. It felt great to be celebrated, and loved.

I thought that was the end of it. It was not. I experienced my first surprise birthday party on the following Saturday!

I was told I had to go with my friend Kelly to one of her friends engagement parties. I knew they had been fairly recently engaged, and some couples do that kinda thing, so I didn't suspect a thing. In order to complete the illusion I was informed that I need to dress nicely. Of couse I found my Sunday best, dusted it off, and looked like a pimp. Kelly came to pick me up, also looking quite nice, and informed me that her toilet was broken, and we needed to go back to her place to fix it. I should have been suspicious, but I'd already had a complete birthday, so with genuine concern, we rushed back to her house to fix the problem. I rushed into her house to a multitude of friends waiting in the dark to yell 'SURPRISE'. It was incredible. It was so fun to react, and to be reacted to as I stood red-faced in the doorway with everyone hand-shaking and back-slapping. It just feels good to be loved. On the fireplace there was big sign wishing me a happy birtday, and on it there were tons of pictures of date parties, hiking adventures, road trips, and other events. It was great to relive those memories too.

I hope that everyone gets a chance to feel loved like I did that week. It most definatly allowed me to reflect on how much I, in turn, love those who were there.

Sorry for the marathon post. See ya next month.

Catch-up, Ketchup, Catsup, Cat soup, Soup d'jour....

Well, I caught a little flack over the weekend for not posting, so I am back. I think I'll try to put the entire month of May into perspective. I went to a Wizards game, and we tailgated. Young Life ended for the summer. (With the exception of camp, and sporadic activities) There were lots of graduation parties to attend. I played a bunch of golf, and improved slightly. I think that's all I did.