On Sep 25th, I had to get multiple trailers received and put away since I knew I had to leave at 1130 sharp to head to court over an hour away.
Since I was travelling from work and not home, I used GPS which took me on a route which I soon recognized as the one I take to Dellwood Park which I passed 8 minutes from the courthouse and three minutes later passed the Old Joliet Prison. (Which explains why Dellwood hosts a fall event inside there.)
Unlike the morning session I attended earlier in the month, there was no line at the metal detector so I was inside 30 minutes early somewhat confused as my document stated to head to the payment location. Soon, someone from another case and I found out what actual court room was being used and went there to check in.
I was disappointed when the judge entered the room as the other party in my case had yet to arrive and didn't until about five minutes into the session. That allowed me to see the previous cases in which all there (but one lawyer) were wearing a t shirt with writing on it as opposed to the regular collared shirt I sported. All previous cases had a child involved and needed parenting classes so having one that's 19 was a help.
Due to the improper and incomplete paperwork involved, it took a little longer than anticipated but the divorce was made official and since not much was joined 20 years ago and much of what was is no longer joined, there was not much to separate. We agreed if something belonging to the other is found to contact the other party which is fair.
After sending a group text and calling my mom, 20 minutes later I was on the tee of #13 at Dellwood making a subtle FB post about the situation similar to the FB post last month where I made a subtle reference of getting laid at the PDGA Worlds in July. (Since the bathroom and pro shop where I got water were next to #13, that is where I started like some players do and anyway, that is more appropriate for me.)
I really wanted to birdie #13 just like I birdied my last hole as a married man. I threw the disc as intended but being off by one disc it turned over too much and after making it through the brush short right, ended up about 30 feet long about 10 feet below the basket. It was physically difficult for me to get to the disc and my approach hit the pole under the cage (and stayed there.) At least, I birdied #14.
When I have not played a course for a while, I will forget things that are not hole specific like the fact that there is a lot of downhill and uphill walking at Dellwood even when not needing to do down a hill to where a shot ended up. I was fortunate that the three put in the river (one slightly off shot, one back kick, one bad shot) did not wash away. After my 11th out of 20 (13-18, 1-6, 6a, 6e, 7-12) the legs were done and the last couple full shots showed.
My initial plans were to find a buffet after but my sister wanted to meet me for a celebration dinner and she suggested the Outback about halfway between where we were. I had not been to the building since it was converted from a Cheeseburger in Paradise and had not been to an Outback since I was "happily married" well over a decade ago.
Possibly influenced by the half plus glass of Miller Lite (in a FB picture many liked) "to celebrate", by the time I was done with the meal, I was ready to sleep. Getting up off the chair was almost embarrassingly difficult. I made it home, found out the water was still out from construction, and fell asleep before 9. Woke at one, confirmed the water was back, set my alarm, and went to bed.
I wanted to get to work early but only managed to get there on time. Fortunately things were not as bad as it could be and after deciding that a weekly thing usually done on a Thursday can be done the day after, the day has gone well though my legs are tired. Those here who have seen the effects my situation has put me through over the last couple decades congratulated me. It is more a relief than anything.
Multiple people have asked me about meeting someone else. Though instincts have kicked in on occasion, my brain eventually responds with "WHAT THE **** ARE YOU THINKING?"
Thursday, September 26, 2019
Wednesday, September 25, 2019
I - Zero - S
Having run Scrabble tournaments, I appreciate the work required to run disc golf events and occasionally end up helping before, during, or after.
For me, the best area events are the Illinois Open Series (IOS). Mike Krupicka, the PDGA head of Illinois, is the one in charge and treats the events like a sports competition as opposed to a hangout and there are things done at an IOS event that are not at any other which I appreciate. This year, having played in three of the four events, I got a poster displaying the artwork used for the trophies.
I can even go to their site shortly after an event (including the most recent one which had 180 players on three courses) and see a hole by hole score by all players there from pros to a nine year old whom I only beat by twelve total shots in August.
My only issue with their events is the same one that often happens and that is inability to play to my expectations most of the time.
The September 22 event (the 99th in the series) was my 22nd in the IOS and since I have figured out the mathematical odds of sports teams, cities, and Canada from failing to win a title, it is appropriate to do the same for my failure:
So why have within 22 events, I have only two seconds and one third? In many of the events, I was overmatched (defined by me as playing against at least one person whose rating would be expected to finish at least ten shots better). Before I was officially diagnosed and treated for arthritis, I would choose to play in MA3 rather than MA4 since MA3 was on a Sunday which would give me one day off before the event. I do admit in one event I should have played in MA4 as all divisions played on that Sunday.
Even though I am better than I was in the middle of the decade, the top local players in the MA50 division are still significantly better than me and it would take having a lot of things go my way like it did in September to even think about winning. In a non IOS event in 2019, my best lifetime combined two round rating still ended up one shot out of first against a top local player.
In the IOS events, there was only one time of the 44 rounds played where I had the best score in the division but on that day in the second round, a more experienced player on the more difficult version of the course made up the gap in three holes and pulled away for a comfortable win. In the event I finished second by one shot, my rounds were the 3rd and 2nd best of those in MA50 and within the first 21 events, the closest I came to winning was 5 shots and there were two events I lost by more than 30.
There is optimism for 2020 and beyond as long as my body stays viable as physical issues were a big part of the poor first half of my 2019 season. However, I know anything can happen at any time physically to me including while asleep.
For me, the best area events are the Illinois Open Series (IOS). Mike Krupicka, the PDGA head of Illinois, is the one in charge and treats the events like a sports competition as opposed to a hangout and there are things done at an IOS event that are not at any other which I appreciate. This year, having played in three of the four events, I got a poster displaying the artwork used for the trophies.
I can even go to their site shortly after an event (including the most recent one which had 180 players on three courses) and see a hole by hole score by all players there from pros to a nine year old whom I only beat by twelve total shots in August.
My only issue with their events is the same one that often happens and that is inability to play to my expectations most of the time.
The September 22 event (the 99th in the series) was my 22nd in the IOS and since I have figured out the mathematical odds of sports teams, cities, and Canada from failing to win a title, it is appropriate to do the same for my failure:
So why have within 22 events, I have only two seconds and one third? In many of the events, I was overmatched (defined by me as playing against at least one person whose rating would be expected to finish at least ten shots better). Before I was officially diagnosed and treated for arthritis, I would choose to play in MA3 rather than MA4 since MA3 was on a Sunday which would give me one day off before the event. I do admit in one event I should have played in MA4 as all divisions played on that Sunday.
Even though I am better than I was in the middle of the decade, the top local players in the MA50 division are still significantly better than me and it would take having a lot of things go my way like it did in September to even think about winning. In a non IOS event in 2019, my best lifetime combined two round rating still ended up one shot out of first against a top local player.
In the IOS events, there was only one time of the 44 rounds played where I had the best score in the division but on that day in the second round, a more experienced player on the more difficult version of the course made up the gap in three holes and pulled away for a comfortable win. In the event I finished second by one shot, my rounds were the 3rd and 2nd best of those in MA50 and within the first 21 events, the closest I came to winning was 5 shots and there were two events I lost by more than 30.
There is optimism for 2020 and beyond as long as my body stays viable as physical issues were a big part of the poor first half of my 2019 season. However, I know anything can happen at any time physically to me including while asleep.
Monday, September 23, 2019
Making the highly improbable happen (almost)
The phrase "highly improbable" was used by Douglas Adams in the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy series of books and though that term is likely designed for things like being struck by lightning or winning the lottery, I like using that term to describe things in my life even if not in the original intent..
There was good reason to not be optimistic about winning the Illinois Open Series 2019 closing event in Rockford for multiple reasons. There were two elite players who registered for my event and of the other 10 rated players, I was 8th and one of the two unrated players finished higher than me at the previous IOS event in Oswego 4 weeks prior. If there was gambling, I would have made myself 50-1 to win.
My goal was to possibly finish in the top half of the field and collect a small amount of merchandise credit. What actually happened was that another player on the last hole had to make a 15 foot putt to beat me by one shot for first. How did this happen?
Problems at the top. Two players who were registered chose not to play including the second highest rated one. The top two remaining players, including the highest rated one in the state were in a group that failed twice in its first 5 holes to play to the correct basket (other groups in our pool made a similar error) of the two that most holes on the course use. There is a two shot penalty for each violation and both of them eventually withdrew from the event. The UDisc app (which I now use after making multiple adding errors this year) had course layouts for the event per pool so I could look at my phone and know which basket and tee pad to use to make sure we were correct.
The courses design. The two Anna Page park courses played by the MA50 group were mostly beyond the range of the players in the division first shots making birdies difficult to get and putting a premium on approach shots. The player who won did not get one in 36. My three came on a 40 foot putt, throwing a drive as hard as I can to reach a basket, and putting one in from over 100 feet.
The weather. No doubt the 2-3 inches of rain that fell in the 24 hours including during most of the event were a factor. Having dry skin, a slow walkup to my drive, and not having much a preshot routine made the rain less a factor for me than other players. I don't think it is a coincidence that the other player who usually chooses a disc and immediately throws won the division.
(In an event two months later where a cold, windy drizzle was falling all during the event, I won the MA50+ division by six shots that equaled the score posted by the MP50+ winner who is an eight time major champion in female events so apparently bad weather hurts my game less than most.)
Also, I prepared for the weather. I had plenty of towels with me to use and still had a dry one left while other players did not have one. I also wore for the first time rain gear which helped keep my arm and back warm as well as using my old pair of non slip work shoes which prevented me from slipping on wet tee pads even after walking through the mud that was present in round two.
There was good reason to not be optimistic about winning the Illinois Open Series 2019 closing event in Rockford for multiple reasons. There were two elite players who registered for my event and of the other 10 rated players, I was 8th and one of the two unrated players finished higher than me at the previous IOS event in Oswego 4 weeks prior. If there was gambling, I would have made myself 50-1 to win.
My goal was to possibly finish in the top half of the field and collect a small amount of merchandise credit. What actually happened was that another player on the last hole had to make a 15 foot putt to beat me by one shot for first. How did this happen?
Problems at the top. Two players who were registered chose not to play including the second highest rated one. The top two remaining players, including the highest rated one in the state were in a group that failed twice in its first 5 holes to play to the correct basket (other groups in our pool made a similar error) of the two that most holes on the course use. There is a two shot penalty for each violation and both of them eventually withdrew from the event. The UDisc app (which I now use after making multiple adding errors this year) had course layouts for the event per pool so I could look at my phone and know which basket and tee pad to use to make sure we were correct.
The courses design. The two Anna Page park courses played by the MA50 group were mostly beyond the range of the players in the division first shots making birdies difficult to get and putting a premium on approach shots. The player who won did not get one in 36. My three came on a 40 foot putt, throwing a drive as hard as I can to reach a basket, and putting one in from over 100 feet.
The weather. No doubt the 2-3 inches of rain that fell in the 24 hours including during most of the event were a factor. Having dry skin, a slow walkup to my drive, and not having much a preshot routine made the rain less a factor for me than other players. I don't think it is a coincidence that the other player who usually chooses a disc and immediately throws won the division.
(In an event two months later where a cold, windy drizzle was falling all during the event, I won the MA50+ division by six shots that equaled the score posted by the MP50+ winner who is an eight time major champion in female events so apparently bad weather hurts my game less than most.)
Also, I prepared for the weather. I had plenty of towels with me to use and still had a dry one left while other players did not have one. I also wore for the first time rain gear which helped keep my arm and back warm as well as using my old pair of non slip work shoes which prevented me from slipping on wet tee pads even after walking through the mud that was present in round two.
Friday, September 20, 2019
Too many special shirts
As I looked for a specific shirt to wear tomorrow, I realize how many I have just for specific situations and not just expected ones like the WKRP Turkey drop shirt or the Die Hard December sweater.
FuMPFeST and Marscon Dementia track shirts are worn when there.
Grumpy t shirt - Got it for a team trivia contest where we were Snow White characters. I wear it many work Fridays since that is my least favorite day to work as my happy Fridays are ones I am not working.
Charlie Brown wearing Jason mask with Lucy's dead body behind her stand - Got is as a present. I wear it on Friday the 13th.
Charlie Brown kicking Lucy's head off - Bought it on line. Would wear it for either fantasy football league draft or a party for the NFL league championship game. I don't play fantasy leagues anymore and now watch the game alone so I can fast forward past commercials and singing since it is only a game and that is all I want to watch.
Integral calculus shirt - Saw it at a con, did the math, realized answer is 69, and asked how much it costs. Wear it on June 9th and will wear to see Bill and Ted 3.
Marscon bus shirt - Got it to wear when I would drive people to Marscon. Since my "Christmas" has evolved into playing a disc golf major event, I now wear it on my trip there.
Madman on the loose shirt - Got it to wear at Marscon party as shown in my profile pic. I now wear it when I check into a disc golf major event as the PDGA chose the image for my player profile page.
Hail Sagan - Purchased it on line. I wear this on Nov 9 and Dec 20 in honor of the astrophysicist birth and death dates.
Miami Dolphins Hall of Fame shirt - My sister got it for me when she was in Canton, OH. I wear it on December 25 as it depicts someone actually born on that day. I would also wear it after the team wins a game in a special situation which seems unlikely this year.
I want Tile - Got it because it is the tag line of a group of sketches. I now only wear it on September 21 as that is what I was wearing when my father died.
FuMPFeST and Marscon Dementia track shirts are worn when there.
Grumpy t shirt - Got it for a team trivia contest where we were Snow White characters. I wear it many work Fridays since that is my least favorite day to work as my happy Fridays are ones I am not working.
Charlie Brown wearing Jason mask with Lucy's dead body behind her stand - Got is as a present. I wear it on Friday the 13th.
Charlie Brown kicking Lucy's head off - Bought it on line. Would wear it for either fantasy football league draft or a party for the NFL league championship game. I don't play fantasy leagues anymore and now watch the game alone so I can fast forward past commercials and singing since it is only a game and that is all I want to watch.
Integral calculus shirt - Saw it at a con, did the math, realized answer is 69, and asked how much it costs. Wear it on June 9th and will wear to see Bill and Ted 3.
Marscon bus shirt - Got it to wear when I would drive people to Marscon. Since my "Christmas" has evolved into playing a disc golf major event, I now wear it on my trip there.
Madman on the loose shirt - Got it to wear at Marscon party as shown in my profile pic. I now wear it when I check into a disc golf major event as the PDGA chose the image for my player profile page.
Hail Sagan - Purchased it on line. I wear this on Nov 9 and Dec 20 in honor of the astrophysicist birth and death dates.
Miami Dolphins Hall of Fame shirt - My sister got it for me when she was in Canton, OH. I wear it on December 25 as it depicts someone actually born on that day. I would also wear it after the team wins a game in a special situation which seems unlikely this year.
I want Tile - Got it because it is the tag line of a group of sketches. I now only wear it on September 21 as that is what I was wearing when my father died.
Thursday, September 12, 2019
Six have died
According to reports a sixth person, a woman in her 50s, has died due to exposure from using vaping products. To me it is not surprising that inhaling vaporized juice can cause damage to lungs the same way that tobacco smoke can.
What is surprising is that the government is promising swift action to "protect its citizens" from this product. I then started to wonder in what timeframe do six Americans die from ...
• being unable to take necessary medicine to keep alive due to the high cost of the product?
• not getting vaccinated for a disease due to unfounded fears of the product?
• accidents created by someone who is intoxicated or buzzed?
• motorists that ignore construction or police on the side of the road?
• disease caused by poor living conditions such as toxic water?
• not having a roof over their head or enough food to eat?
• a law enforcement officer who made a decision to act that was influenced by the color of someone's skin?
• being overseas wearing a military uniform in a war which those who started it have been long dead?
• suicide after being unable to cope with life following military service?
• suicide after being traumatized by others because of what they are?
• attacks because of what they are?
And ... How quickly can six Americans die when one person gets hold of a weapon designed to kill many and uses it on a group of people?
Though I appreciate the idea of the government protecting its citizens, there are far more significant things to examine than vaping.
What is surprising is that the government is promising swift action to "protect its citizens" from this product. I then started to wonder in what timeframe do six Americans die from ...
• being unable to take necessary medicine to keep alive due to the high cost of the product?
• not getting vaccinated for a disease due to unfounded fears of the product?
• accidents created by someone who is intoxicated or buzzed?
• motorists that ignore construction or police on the side of the road?
• disease caused by poor living conditions such as toxic water?
• not having a roof over their head or enough food to eat?
• a law enforcement officer who made a decision to act that was influenced by the color of someone's skin?
• being overseas wearing a military uniform in a war which those who started it have been long dead?
• suicide after being unable to cope with life following military service?
• suicide after being traumatized by others because of what they are?
• attacks because of what they are?
And ... How quickly can six Americans die when one person gets hold of a weapon designed to kill many and uses it on a group of people?
Though I appreciate the idea of the government protecting its citizens, there are far more significant things to examine than vaping.
Monday, September 9, 2019
Endgame
Unlike most, I was happy at the end of Infinity War as the universe was improved by the sacrifice that Thanos made. Because of that, I was not really interested in seeing Endgame knowing that Thanos's hard work would be nullified but 4 months later, decided to rent it from the privacy of my own home.
If you have yet to watch Endgame, this would be time to stop reading since the rest of the post will be about the movie.
I am aware than those remaining would eventually locate and with the help of Captain Marvel, make Thanos pay and it was brutal, simple, and anti-dramatic. However, that was only 20 minutes into the 181 minute movie. Then it showed people five years later dealing with the aftermath. It was a pleasant surprise to see that Banner was able to find a midpoint between him and the Hulk and that he was a scientist/celebrity.
I was angry to see a dilapidated Citi Field. Though I could understand the 2018 MLB season as well as other sports leagues suspending play for a season after half of those in the organizations disappeared but for them to fail to continue afterward in some form is not plausible especially in a world where other things appear normalized.
For me, Natasha running point talking with Marvel, Rocket and others seemed like a perfect place to end everything and roll credits after 35 minutes but then came the character that ruined it all. ANT MAN.
To be fair, it was not Ant Man in particular but the idea of time travel that he presented. My first thought upon hearing that suggestion was Back to the Future and soon heard Tony Stark say that and shortly after finding Thor and just before Stark said it, said Lebowski. When an overrated broadcaster of a Chicago baseball team that plays in a major league home stadium says something just after I do and annoys a fan of the other Chicago baseball team, that is fine. I really don't want to do that in a Marvel movie and though I enjoy time travel based entertainment, did not want it in this situation.
Much of the last 145 minutes of the movie was unnecessary sentimentality including recreating moments from the previous 21 films, having characters meet ones from the past, a poorly done crazy self sacrifice scene, and one last massive battle where those who were eliminated were back.
It took me four hours over three days to watch the last 145 minutes as I had fallen asleep four times during it (including at the start of the massive battle) and had to rewind the DVR to see what I missed..
I am glad I spent $6 at home as opposed to double that at a theatre.
If you have yet to watch Endgame, this would be time to stop reading since the rest of the post will be about the movie.
I am aware than those remaining would eventually locate and with the help of Captain Marvel, make Thanos pay and it was brutal, simple, and anti-dramatic. However, that was only 20 minutes into the 181 minute movie. Then it showed people five years later dealing with the aftermath. It was a pleasant surprise to see that Banner was able to find a midpoint between him and the Hulk and that he was a scientist/celebrity.
I was angry to see a dilapidated Citi Field. Though I could understand the 2018 MLB season as well as other sports leagues suspending play for a season after half of those in the organizations disappeared but for them to fail to continue afterward in some form is not plausible especially in a world where other things appear normalized.
For me, Natasha running point talking with Marvel, Rocket and others seemed like a perfect place to end everything and roll credits after 35 minutes but then came the character that ruined it all. ANT MAN.
To be fair, it was not Ant Man in particular but the idea of time travel that he presented. My first thought upon hearing that suggestion was Back to the Future and soon heard Tony Stark say that and shortly after finding Thor and just before Stark said it, said Lebowski. When an overrated broadcaster of a Chicago baseball team that plays in a major league home stadium says something just after I do and annoys a fan of the other Chicago baseball team, that is fine. I really don't want to do that in a Marvel movie and though I enjoy time travel based entertainment, did not want it in this situation.
Much of the last 145 minutes of the movie was unnecessary sentimentality including recreating moments from the previous 21 films, having characters meet ones from the past, a poorly done crazy self sacrifice scene, and one last massive battle where those who were eliminated were back.
It took me four hours over three days to watch the last 145 minutes as I had fallen asleep four times during it (including at the start of the massive battle) and had to rewind the DVR to see what I missed..
I am glad I spent $6 at home as opposed to double that at a theatre.
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