Chili and Baseball

It doesn't get much better than this on a fall weekend.  The weather has left something to be desired, and even though it was nice and balmy out today, I decided it was time to make a big batch of chili.  My favorite recipe takes about 5 hours from start to finish, so I like to make a double batch when I put in the time.  We warmed up a loaf of asiago cheese bread, and turned on the Tiger game while we ate.  It was a pleasant evening even before the Tigers won the game.  And, we have a few more chili dinners waiting in the freezer.

An Intereting Fellow

We were having our dinner last night when a rather interesting man came into the restaurant.  I estimate he was in his late 70s or so.  His name was Paul.  He sat down a few tables away from us, and ordered "a glass of pinot noir, a glass of ice, and a glass of water, to be placed side by side, in that order."  We then wathched him spoon exactly 5 ice cubes, one at a time, into his glass of wine.  Then, while he was waiting for his dinner order, he asked the manager to check the reservation book for his reservation the following evening.  He confirmed that it was there, and for the time he had specified.  Then Paul asked that his party be seated at the table next to the one where he was currently sitting.  He had determined this would give his guests the "best experience".  It was really fascinating watching him lay out his plans.  He wasn't offensive, but he was what I would call "eccentric".  We lingered over our dinner and desert for quite a while.  When Paul had finished his steak, he said a pleasant "goodnight" to the wait staff and to us.  Then he left.  I imagine his party will have a very enjoyable dinner today. 

Gatlinburg to Savannah

The vacation has been lots of fun so far.  We stayed in Gatlinburg for a couple days.  On Sunday, we played golf at the Gatlinburg Country Club.  Other than the fact we needed to be part mountain goat to play their course, we really enjoyed it very much.  I forgot my camera, but trust me, my ball was never level with my feet for 18 holes.  I managed to break 100, but not by much.  And, the Hubs beat me by one stroke too, so I had to buy dinner!  We went to a local steakhouse and had a great meal with just a bit too much wine.  It was a great time.  Today, we drove through Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  It was pretty early in the morning, so most of the view was still in the clouds, but it was a beautiful drive just the same.  Now we are enjoying the sights and tastes of Savannah.

Where Have I Been?

When my BFF mentioned today that she would be following my blog on my upcoming trip, it occurred to me I haven't even updated it in a month!  What's going on in my life right now isn't all that exciting, I suppose.  Golf season has wound down (rather quckly, considering the weather).  I have new neighbors, and am enjoying watching them update the landscaping around their house.  And, I'm working extra hard to get my life in order so I can go on vacation.  We will be seeing Savannah and Charleston for the first time, as well as playing a couple Hilton Head courses.  That's something to scratch off the bucket list.

My Prize

The weekend in Niagara was so much fun.  Get about 100 women together, and you know there will be memories made!  I placed third in my flight, so I won't be advancing to the finals in Palm Beach next month.  But, I did get this very cool trophy.  And I gained some experience playing under tournament conditions, which puts the game on a very different level.  I think I may give this a try again next year.

Off To Niagara

A couple weeks ago, I had an incredible round of golf.  It just so happens it was during our Chapter Championship, a local tournament sponsored by Executive Women's Golf Association, of which I am a member.  I ended up winning my flight, and qualifying for the regional championship.  That is being held in Niagara Falls, Ontario this weekend.  I have no idea how I will do, but how bad can a weekend in Niagara Falls be?

Chicago

I spent a good portion of last week at a convention in Chicago.  What a cool city Chicago is.  I had a great view from my window that inspired me to get out and walk around.

Of course, the weather did not always cooperate, so I had to negotiate the rain showers.  On Saturday, just before I left, it was beautiful out.  So I went for a long walk.  About a mile or so from my hotel I came across Oprah's TV studio.  It was far more modest than I had ever pictured.

I did notice, though, that the side street had been named "Oprah Winfrey Way".  Maybe not so modest after all.





A "Relaxing" Day Off

As a "thank you" for volunteering at the US Senior Open event, Indianwood Country Club allowed me to play a round of golf on the old course for a reduced fee.  They also let me bring a guest, so yesterday I took the day off work, grabbed the Hubs, and set out for a nice relaxing game of golf.
I had no idea what I was in for!  The course is hard to begin with, with a slope rating of 131 from the forward tees.  But, it was still in "tournament shape" with the roughs being extra-long, and the greens being extra-fast.  On the first green, we each putted once, and then just stared at each other.  It was like putting on linoleum!  We managed to get through the round with our dignity somewhat intact.  I didn't break 100, but I was still able to hold my head up.  I did make 3 pars after all...
Anyway, we went to the Sagebrush Cantina afterward, and drowned our sorrows in a couple margueritas.  You know what they say...a bad day on the golf course still beats the best day at work!

Golf Then Dinner

Last fall I was at a benefit golf outing for the assistant pro from my club.  As a door prize, I won a round of golf at Hawk Hollow in Lansing.  Today we went to play.  It is a beautiful course, and in really good shape.  We were having a great time, and I was kicking the Hubs' you-know-what, up until the last hole.  That's when I put three balls in the water, and ended up taking a 10.  He beat me by two strokes.  Damn!  I think he must have felt sorry for me, though, because he took me to Whitey's for dinner.  That's a favorite restaurant of ours, with a salad bar like no other.  They are known for their fish, and we have never been disappointed.

Someday I will figure out how to get a couple of their bar stools for my basement!

My Week As A Marshall

I just finished my final shift at the golf tournament, and I am now sitting in my cool house, watching the leaders finish on TV.  The U.S. Senior Open Championship is the first outing I have ever worked as a Marshall, and I really had a blast.  I would do it again in a minute, despite the heat, dust, and a few rather nasty spectators.  I chalked it all up to being part of the job.  For the most part, I found the spectators to be very understanding of the job we had to do, and the players were very appreciative of our efforts...and said so.  It was a real thrill to stand on the tee box with Fuzzy Zoeller, Larry Mize, Corey Pavin, Tom Lehman, and so many others I have admired for years.  I happened to be working the #12 hole, the hardest hole on the course.  And, they made it look so easy!  I am told I can play the course any Tuesday for the rest of this season, and I really want to give it a try.  I'm sure my game will not look nearly as pretty, but it should be fun.

Family Get Together

 Last Saturday we went to my sister's for a fun summer get-together with the family.  The weather was a great relief, after more than a week of 90-100 degrees, and we really looked forward to sitting by the lake enjoying the breeze.  It was great seeing everyone, and sharing the company.  From the seniors to the new arrivals, it seemed like everyone had a great time.

We spent the night in town, and the next morning had breakfast at Al's.  Then we went to Verona Hills for a round of golf.  The Hubs beat me by one stroke, so I paid for the dinner at Frankenmuth on the way home.  It was a wonderful weekend.

Enjoying the Fireworks

Yesterday we went to our friends house on Hidden Lake to watch the fireworks.  It was the first time we had seen them there, and they did a great job.  Of course, I forgot my camera, so I have no pictures, but it was a great display.  We were joined by several other friends, and sat out on the patio, overlooking the lake.  We had a spectacular view of the show.  We visited, and did our usual job of eating too much.  It was a great time.  The only drawback is that they are over an hour away from our house, so we didn't get home until quite late.  Today I have no energy at all.

Happy Dad's Day

One great thing about Father's Day is that we get to see the boys, whom we do not see nearly as often as we would like.  Today we went to dinner at Carrie Lee's.  It was kind of like old times, as we used to take them to dinner at Carrie Lee's when it was in Birmingham.  Now we had to go out to Williams Lake Road, but it's close to them so it was worth the trip. 

We enjoyed a great dinner, and lots of conversation.  Of course I kept my eye on the U.S. Open which was on the TV in the background.

Delicious!

Last night, we went to Roast for dinner.  I have a thing about trying the restaurants owned by the celebrity chefs on the Food Network.  This one is Michael Simon's.  But, it also carrys the endorsement by Aaron Sanchez, for the fried brussels sprouts being the "best thing I ever ate".  I must agree.  Of course, they are fried in lard, with garlic and walnuts.  They were fabulous, and the Hubs (the brussels sprouts hater of all time) even liked them, for crying out loud!  We ordered a nice bottle of wine, and I had pork shank, while the Hubs enjoyed a steak.  It ranks right up there as one of the top 5 dinners of my life.  I am definitely going back, despite the price.

Happy Anniversary

Today is our 23rd anniversary.  We decided to start the day with "nine and breakfast", which we haven't done in quite a while.  We got to Bald Mountain at 6:15AM, played nine holes, and were at breakfast by 8:00.  Then reality set in and we spent the rest of the day grocery shopping, housecleaning and doing laundry.  But tonight we are going to treat ourselves to a nice dinner at Michael Simon's restaurant in Detroit.  Looking forward to that.

Being Proud Of The Hubs

The day before yesterday we were invited to a dinner at the OPC.  Apparently, a former customer had used their transportation services during the last years of his life, and his widow made a sizeable donation in his name.  She specified that it was designated for the transportation division only.  They decided to mark the occasion by inviting all the drivers and their spouses to a dinner to thank them for their service.  It was really enjoyable.  The Board was there, and several of the regular customers joined them to serve dinner to us.  Then they gave testimonials about what the drivers meant to them.  They talked about the door-to-door service, the extra care they took in making them comfortable, and the fact that they take the time to get to know them.  It is such a great service to the community, and I was proud the Hubs could be a part of it.  He enjoyed the recognition too, and could barely get his head through the door afterward!

Off To The Beach

We went to our friends house on the lake last Sunday.  It was the annual Memorial Day kickoff to summer, and boy did the weather cooperate!  We don't often get to enjoy real summer weather in May, but with the thermometer approaching 90 degrees, I felt the need to bring something really summery.  I decided to try a new recipe for a lemon-berry tart.  It's the first tart I have ever made, but I think it turned out pretty good.  And it tasted even better than it looked! 

Spring Blooms

Now that my yard is in shape, I am able to enjoy it from the inside as well as out.  I have a few spots of color strategically placed so I get a nice view as I pass by the windows.  I put a pot of pansies on the new table in my front patio area.  (The peonies are beginning to bloom just beyond the wall, too)

And we hung a pot of bright red begonias outside the den window

It sure brightens up the house

Time To Catch Up

Last night the Hubs asked me if I had been blogging recently.  I knew it hadn't been "recently", but I was a bit surprised to see how long it has been since my last post.  Time to catch up.  Since the last time I posted, I have been on vacation (the annual Myrtle Beach trip).   I golfed great, and had a wonderful, relaxing time.  The day before we left, I went for a walk on the beach in softer-than-normal sand.  I seem to have wrenched my knee, and have now been limping for a couple weeks.  These old bones aren't what they used to be!
Regardless, it is spring, and time to get the yard in shape.  So, we pulled weeds and prepped beds.  But, we both agreed it was time to pay someone else to spread the mulch this year.  Then we went out for our annual flower purchase, and went a little crazy.  My garage is now hung with bags of geraniums, and there are various baskets of color around the yard.  Beautiful!
Last weekend (while the Hubs was out golfing), I decided to wash all the inside windows and screens.  It took several hours to finish, and all those trips up and down the stepladder were no help to my knee at all.  I think I am now ready for another vacation...

We're A Chrysler Family Now

A couple weeks ago, I decided 71,000 miles was my limit, and it was time to buy a new car.  So, as usual, I headed up to my local GM dealer and looked for something that was within my budget, while still affording me the comforts I'm used to.  No dice.  After several visits and lots of haggling, we couldn't seem to come together.  I left that last time, feeling pretty crummy about the whole thing.  On the way home, I pulled into the Chrysler dealer.  The 300's had been catching my eye for a couple years, and I have always liked the look of the Sebring too.  I was pleased to learn the Sebring had been replaced by a sporty model 200 that I could get fully loaded for a very reasonable price.  To top it off, the salesperson turned out to be someone I had worked with nearly 30 years ago.  Since the car practically sold itself, we spent most of our time catching up on the past.  It was a very pleasant experience, and I picked up my new car the next day.
The Hubs, not to be outdone, decided the Dodge Journey he had been considering was just the right car for him too.  So, that's 2 new cars in a week.  I'm sure the neighbors must be wondering if we won the lottery.

The Boss Knows How To Throw A Party

Today is my Boss' 70th birthday.  So, last night he threw a party....at the Henry Ford Museum!  He said if it was good enough for Bill Ford, it was good enough for him.  I have to say, it was a real blast.  I don't generally think of the museum as a venue for a dinner party, but it really worked well.  There were several food stations, with something for every taste.  Deserts included Sanders hot fudge cream puffs and bumpy cake.  Seating ranged from tables to high tops and was spread throughout the auto exhibits.  And, when we got tired of sitting we strolled the museum.  There was a great band, with lots of dancing.  A photo booth gave us a souvenier strip of photos, just like the ones we used to get at the mall.  And on the way out, we filled up a bag with nostalgic candy to take with us.  Happy Birthday Doc.  It was great fun.

Fore!

On St. Patty's Day we went to our friends' house for a card party.  We spent the evening playing Euchre and partaking of the great food that everyone brought.  I ate plenty, and washed it all down with a few glasses of wine, so yesterday I was feeling I needed to work some of it off.  I went out for a 6 mile walk through the neighborhood.  I couldn't believe the beautiful lawns tuning green, the forsythia and daffodils in bloom, and the flowering trees all budded up.  It's the middle of March for crying out loud!
Knowing Michigan, it could easily be snowing next week, so I decided to cooperate with Mother Nature and take the next couple days off work.  Golf course, here I come!

My Assistant Made A Fool Of Me

I have been enjoying getting to know my new phone.  I especially like Siri, the assistant feature.  It allows me to talk to the phone, get directions, set reminders, etc.  Yesterday I decided I should stop at the grocery store on the way home from work, so I asked my phone, "Remind me to stop at the store when I leave work".  Simple enough, I thought.  I went to work and busied myself with the day.  At about 10AM, the Boss came to my office and told me he wanted me to join him at a meeting at the hospital.  He would drive us.  About half way to the hospital, my phone went off.    I was a bit surprised, because nobody calls me during the day.  Then I realized I had "left work" and my phone had picked up the move on my GPS, and was reminding me to stop at the store.  I had to explain to the Boss that my phone was smarter than I was!

My New Toy

I finally took the plunge today and bought a smart phone.  Not that I wanted to, mind you.  But, my Palm Pilot bit the dust some months ago, and my cellular service came up for a contract renewal.  Frankly, I am a bit bowled over by the changes in technology.  Sooner or later, though, I figure I'd better decide to cooperate with it, or I'd be stuck with a paper calendar in my purse forever.  So, I am now the proud owner of an iPhone.  I spent most of the afternoon just figuring out how to make a call and send a text.  I have a headache.

Super Bowl

This was an interesting Super Bowl Sunday.  I am happy the Giants won, not because I watched the game, but because that's who the Hubs was rooting for.  Knowing I would be going to bed early, I didn't even turn the game on.  The Hubs went to a neighbor's, where he could watch it in the garage while they shared cigars.  Of course, I had to follow a Super Bowl tradition and made a big pot of chili for dinner before he left.  We only ate about half of it, so the rest is in the freezer, just waiting for the next time he doesn't feel like cooking.

A Marshall for the Seniors

I was happy to volunteer my services for the Senior Open that will be played at Indianwood Country Club this July.  I was hoping for a nice job, but got the pleasant surprise this week that I am going to be a marshall.  I don't know my exact assignment yet, but how bad can it be?  I will likely be on the course with the players.  Pretty neat!

A Sad Weekend

An unexpected death in the family has had me going to funeral homes and funeral services, all the while fitting them in between previous committments.  To make matters worse, the Hubs is on a fishing trip and I am braving these events on my own.  Tonight I am sitting here alone, trying to figure out the meaning behind losing a 36 year old dynamo.  I'm not getting any closer to understanding it, but maybe time will help.

A New Author

My BFF has been trying to get me hooked on Janet Evanovich.  I have read a few of her books, but told her I find them a bit "fluffy".  She insists the Stephanie Plum series is one I would enjoy.  In fact, she was so sure of this, she bought me the first book (One For The Money) for Christmas.  I must admit, I have been enjoying it.  Then yesterday I noticed an ad on TV for the movie, which will open this Friday.  I have about 30 more pages to go, so I'd better get it finished.  The Hubs is going on a fishing trip this weekend, and this may be a perfect time for the girls to catch a movie!

Back to Normal

The Christmas decorations are finally all put away.  It took me all day, and I'm sure the Hubs had an ulterior motive when he invited company over tonight, but I am done.  Now I am ready to enjoy pizza and cards with our guests.  And tomorrow I can do whatever I feel like.  I will probably spend the day knitting, but I can't rule out a walk in this great weather.

Gratitude

There is an old quote (forgive me if I can't remember the author at present) that goes something like, "If the only prayer you ever say is 'thank you', that will be enough".  Now, maybe it's because I let the Hubs handle all the stresses of Christmas shopping, wrapping, etc., but I seem to have replaced my usual post-holiday coma with lots of pleasant memories.  My house seems cozier, the neighbors friendlier, and my family more of a comfort than ever.  I gladly went back to work this morning, ready to take on the new year.  One of my resolutions will definitely be to take more time to smell the flowers.