A Ticket With A Twist

A couple weeks ago I was heading to Port Huron to have lunch with my sisters.  Listening to an audiobook, as I usually do, I was happily cruising up Lapeer road.  Then I saw the flashing lights behind me.  Rats!  A speeding ticket!  The officer was quick to point out that he had let me off easy by only writing it for 5 mph over the limit, and that he had only given me a warning for not using my turn signal when I changed lanes.  Nevertheless, it was 95 bucks I didn't need to spend, not to mention the 2 points on my record.  I paid it the next day, and proceeded to put it out of my mind, assuring myself the three years it would take to clear my record would go by in no time.Today I got a letter from the Secretary of State telling me, based on my driving record, I have the opportunity to take a Basic Driver Improvement Course.  If I do so prior to December 11, the points will not appear on my record, and the violation will not be reported to insurance companies.  Of course, the fee for the course added to what the ticket already cost me may not be worth keeping a clean record.  But, it sure beats waiting three years.

Great Golf

The weather was so great this past weekend, I had to leave the Hubs at home to recouperate, while I went out to play golf.  On Saturday we played in a benefit fund-raiser for the assistant pro at my home course.  He has recently been diagnosed with cancer and the medical bills are piling up real fast.  He spent his winters skiing, so his ski club and the golf club got together and had an outing.  Now, a full course holds 144 players, but we couldn't say no to anyone, so we crammed in over 200 players.  The round took nearly 7 hours, followed by dinner, prizes, and a silent auction.  I registered at 8:30AM and didn't get back home until after 9PM!  It was so much fun, and the weather was so great, I decided to join a couple of the girls on Sunday and play another 18.  I was exhausted when I went back to work this morning.  (It was worth it!)

Recovering

The Hubs had some minor surgery yesterday.  All went very well, and they let him go home last night instead of keeping him in the hospital.  He was feeling pretty out of it at first, but this afternoon he seemed to get back to his old self.  He decided he could really go for some homemade bread and cookies.  Good thing I took the rest of the week off to be his nurse.  I actually enjoyed spending the afternoon in the kitchen, and the house smells wonderful!

New Golf Equipment

Today was so beautiful, I just had to go out and play golf.  It gave me an opportunity to try out the new club I bought yesterday.  The girls on my golf league chipped in and gave me a gift certificate in thanks for running the league.  So,  of course, I felt obliged to go to Carls yesterday, and do some shopping.  I had been considering trying a hybred club, and they had them on sale.  So, I tried a few and settled on a Taylor Made "rescue" club.  And, of course, I saved so much on the club that I had to buy a new golf bag too. Today I tried them both out, and with the cooperation of the weather as well, I really enjoyed my afternoon.

From Weeds To Flowers

I developed a bad habit of not weeding my gardens this year.  I kept telling myself I would get to it when the front patio was finished.  There was a significant weed growing in my front yard that began to look more and more like a rambing rosebush.  Even after the patio was finished, I couldn't bring myself to pull it out.  I can't figure out where it came from, but it may become one of the prettiest weeds I have ever cultivated.  Tonight I transplanted it in front of a trellis that I couldn't ever get plants to climb on. Maybe the two will become friends.  At any rate, now that it is in a place that I want it to grow, it can no longer be called a weed.  Next spring should reveal whether it is, in fact, a rosebush.

Dealing With Homeland Security

I played in a charity outing for the Disabled American Veterans yesterday.  It was at Selfridge Golf Course.  It was a real experience entering a government installation on the day before the anniversary of 9/11.  Security was beefed up, and I was asked to pull over and register in the guard shack when I entered the base.  I was standing in a line of 10 or so people, and was dealing with the red tape just fine, when a couple got in line behind me, with the woman raving at the top of her lungs about the actions of the senior guard at the entry gate.  Apparently he had directed his coworker to do something, and that offended her.  She complained at high volume about how things were going just fine until he opened his mouth.  He overheard her, of course (everyone within a city block did, I swear) and said: "hey are you telling me how to do my job?".  She yelled back: "well, apparently someone has to!"
The rest of us just stood there, trying very hard not to engage, and suddenly there were two uniformed (and armed) national guardsmen removing her from the line and taking her off to the side for a "discussion".  Well, I was cleared just about that time,so I got out of there quickly.  All I could think about was how stupid it was to get into it with federal security officials in this day and age.  I didn't see either her or her husband at the golf outing.  I suspect they never made it on to the base. 
The outing was really fun, though.  The weather cooperated beautifully, and we had a great time.

A Great Day At The Lake

There are those who would argue that this Labor Day weekend was a real disappointment, weather-wise. We lucked out, though, when our friends decided Saturday would be the best day to get together.

It was 93 degrees by the time we left for their house on the lake. We headed straight for the water, and the girls spent the bulk of the afternoon floating, gabbing, and drinking pina coladas.

We topped that off with so many appetizers, I was sure I couldn't eat dinner. But the fried chicken and grilled sausages were more than I could resist. Forgive me, Weight Watchers.

This is the greatest way to bookend the summer...Memorial Day and Labor Day at Kay and Paul's!