Being the outsider

Here is a chart listing the current status of the 30 other people who share one or both of my grandmothers. Born from the early 1950s to the late 1970s through five different couples as the idea of having many kids was still common since many used to die young but thanks to medical advances, the only child medical deaths were in infancy and are not included.

Except for the one who is incapable of being in a relationship, I am the only uncoupled person among the living 27. I also believe at age 33, was among the oldest to have their first wedding.

As it has been over two years since the divorce, am occasionally asked if I am dating or interested in doing so. Though instincts work, any thought of acting upon them inspires memories that make it a bad idea so when acting upon those instincts are rejected, it is not a bad thing.

Though some memories deal with things specific to those who were in a relationship with me, many of those memories are not. Over the past ten years, have heard new terms used to describe what I generally did in relationships and to be honest, I really don't want to put someone else through dealing with the madman. The phrase "I know my ex is an idiot because she married me" is less a comment about her intelligence but more an indictment of me and that phrase itself is an example of this.

A lot of how I behave towards potential partners is still instinctive most of which was developed at home and in school by the time I was 15. There are a group of people who don't understand why I would not want to spent my birthday remembering those moments while wondering when the next person would ridicule me for how I talk, acted, or how ugly I am.

When I reluctantly joined those people a few years ago most with their partner, there were thoughts that if shared would not go over well and thanks to my reply to a generic post a few months later, one person apologized for how I was treated back then. My desire to thank in person was awkward as a another person was there no doubt to make sure I would not do anything weird.

In the 21st century, I realized some important things. First is that I will never figure out phase two to allow me to profit in phase three. When I was growing up knowing how mathematically and logistically dominant my mind is, never even realized that there needed to be a phase two.

Also realized that it makes no sense to support the political organization whose ideas currently fall in place with the 15 year old version of me. I am positive that had COVID-19 actually been COVID-2000, that I would be among the many mask/vaccine deniers who would have wanted to do what it took to prevent certain people from entering the country, casting a vote, or confirming an election that would undo many things to "make America great".

Though aware that those thoughts are dated, my instincts still kick in like wishing I registered for today's event involving whom I refer as my equivalent of Serena Williams and my "desire to prove that female pro divisions should play for less money than open ones". Unfortunately the chance to break the tie from the Thanksgiving weekend 2019 event won't happen in the 2021 event after being advised by my boss to not make any weekend plans if I am interested in earning money to pay for the ER visit and the car repair needed to make to allow me to renew my plates and to reduce the chance I slide off the road in winter.

It is also a good thing that some of the parodies I have created will never leave my brain, the lyrics to melodies I occasionally hum are not known by those around me, and that no coworker used Google to find out what I meant when referring to the coworker who kept my wife while she was in labor on hold for ten minutes while refusing to page me as "duck butter".

As my trip to Peoria was cancelled due to multiple things, thought about Windycon and trying to relive the awesome birthdays I had there. However, the nights of partying let alone staying up past midnight are in my past along with betting on horses as well as a casino trip which on this date caused me to lose my bankroll almost as fast as the complimentary birthday buffet when my attempt to emulate John Pinette to make up my loss turned into one of Mr. Creosote in the parking lot.

The thought of a strip club also happened until realizing that the idea of scantily dressed women 40% my age trying to get as much money out of me was only made worse by the idea one of them could be from the same graduation class as my daughter.

Since I need to work today at my full time job, not sure if I could get in a disc golf round since the initial special plan of Northwood Park Black is not happening. Might play before or maybe a glow club round after.

A few years ago had an opportunity and made a financial transaction to not feel alone for an hour but it felt awkward since I felt obligated to ask for permission as opposed to acting instinctively and letting someone whom I paid to be with me tell me when something is not allowable.

As personal evolvement continues in what I perceive to by the last quarter of my life, maybe an opportunity will arise and I find another person with whom I could spend time. If that happens, it will be awkward but ... no. It would only cause pain.

Being the "bad guy".

With the Disc Golf Pro Tour Championship this week, I will be once again stating that the payout will be unfair in replies about the event.

Once again me stating that the FPO getting the same top prizes and the MPO is wrong will cause people to call me out.

I will use the example of #18 at the final round at this year's Pro Worlds to show the extreme difference in similar shots under similar situations made by the 5x MPO and FPO world champions and it won't matter.

I will explain that just like in 2019 where I did not want to see the #1 FPO player play a course designed for the top MPO players and her status compared to top MPO players was similar to my status compared to the top MA50 players at the am Worlds earlier that year.

I will also explain that comparing a player half my age to me would be unfair but comparing a nine time FPO major champion who is over 50 would be and that the last time both her and I played the same course at the same time in the same event we shot the same score.

Bring it on.

Seeing the light

Many who have worked with me have seen me catch the light wrong and have problems seeing for about 15-20 minutes followed by a migraine. I have realized not turning on a light while loading or unloading a truck and wearing a hat at work helps prevent that from happening. I also realized my incidents happened when tired and being unable to get enough sleep.

Since I start at noon at my new job, have not had one this year until today:

With transition lenses, playing disc golf has never been an issue. I would wake up early anyway so I would rarely be tired on the course. However, have not slept well this week. 

On my 16th of an 18 round, was in the one wooded hole on a course on a day when it ranged from dark clouds to sunny. With my glasses clear was walking to the basket when catching the sun wrong and there was a bright light in my field of vision to finish the round. Somehow was still able to make putts and got an MA55+ birdie 3 on the flat 525 hole to end my round.

It went away before I left but it was followed by a bad migraine. I stopped for food and drank a lot of water and Coke Zero. I barely got home before my body emptied from both ends.

Tried delivering a few hours later but realized was not up for it.

Making disc golf fun

Most who have seen me play disc golf in clubs, leagues, and tournaments know I generally don't have fun playing the sport. Be it physical issues, playing 850 ability with 1050 intensity, or being an impatient old man, I usually am miserable on the course and often need assistance unloading after driving home (especially after this year's Northwood Park event) and am grateful to now start work at noon giving me a chance to be mostly functional at work the day after an event.

That leaves many to ask why would I do this? Statistics. The enjoyment I get is entering information onto multiple spreadsheets. For the 2021 season, there is one for event recap and another for rated birdies which will be posted at the end of the year.

Another one I keep is individual course data. Among listing best round and best rating at each course, also list all the different birdies achieved per course. 

For counting, multiple tees count individually as well as multiple basket locations, temp holes and baskets, and tees or baskets which have been moved. I am at 511 total lifetime holes birdied.

The other chart is overall different holes birdied per year. I keep track of date of first birdie, tee, basket location, if it is the first time getting a birdie on that hole, and disc used for the first two to get it referencing if it is a par 4 or 5, approach shot (throw in), long putt, or metal hit on drive. This year's total count is currently 183 done at 30 courses (counting the white and gold layouts at Fairfield Park in Round Lake)

This is what I find to be fun. Without data to enter from my play, no fun can be had. To those who find this weird, please refer to the title of the blog.

The next generation

FuMPFeST 2021 exceeded expectations be it music, interactions, or the fact that by resurrecting the "USS Whitehurst" for one more weekend and making multiple trips from the hotel to the airport or train stations, I felt like I was contributing to making the weekend better. To be honest, the only regret from the weekend within expectations was not taking a picture with my 21 year old daughter there which I get reminded when seeing ones taken with her at past events.

Since it was not a scifi con, late night activities were limited but since I don't drink anymore and since midnight seems real late to me now, I generally left after the main part of the evening was over anyway even on the night others were hanging out for late night activities.

My daughter is at the point where she regularly stays of late. There have been times when waking up at 3 AM to use the bathroom will hear her going strong on line.

A couple people suggested that since she is now 21 she should go to Minnesota next March to party like I used to do and stated they will make sure she is ok. My first instinct was to go there and watch her myself but realized that is not a good idea.

I generally don't stay up that late anymore even though I work until 8PM or later. My last party at a con was the weekend of my 50th birthday and by Saturday night, realized I was no longer up for doing it, and was out of the hotel by 9AM the next morning.

My focus is now on doing what I can do as opposed to watching people do what I can't. The number of times I rehearsed the babble I did during dumb parody ideas far exceeded the response I got even though I knew it was for someone who wasn't even there.

Two of the people who want my daughter to party with her are adult daughters of people I used to hang out late with and have seen awkward interactions between them and their parents at Marscon and realize my presence there would likely produce the same interaction.

One of the first things I did when going back to work after FuMPFeST was to find the date for the 2022 PDGA Masters World Championship (July 12-16) knowing that is when my next Christmas will be. Then I listened to some of the music produced by the 2022 Marscon music GOH. Even though an improved financial situation would make attending possible, other than seeing some people I have not seen in 5 years, there is no reason to go.

FuMPFeST 2021 was awesome and if it is my last event like this, it was a great way to end a portion of my life.

Making a different choice

Thanks in part to multiple people, was able to get the 500 points needed to qualify for the 2022 Worlds.

I have 2 events in August, one Labor Day, and one in November registered and still want to play a couple more fall events.

There are four choices all with positives and negatives:

Sep 12 Madison Meadows:

Positives: This is the cheapest option and by far the shortest drive. This is also an unrated event where I can win money.

Negatives: This event is a Sunday following a Monday event. Being unrated could mean I could be paired with people whose attitude conflicts with mine.

Sep 19 Lemon Lake MP50 

Positives: Would play Silver/Red courses which have become two best ones there I can play. Prefer MP50 mindset which recently was able to post lifetime best round.

Negatives: Most expensive option. Would be significantly worst player in the division. My best lifetime round in MP50 only placed me 7th out of 10.

Sep 19 Lemon Lakes MA50 

Positives: Most suitable field for my ability/age that will be playing on courses I played last weekend.

Negatives: Not a fan of most changes made to White course and Blue course has mostly dirt or grass tees some have not been completely leveled as well as multiple long walks between holes.

Sep 18 or 19 Joliet Prison round:

Positives: The idea of playing a round at that location is desirable. Since it is only one round, would have time before or after to make deliveries.

Negatives: Not the best place for discs which can easily get lost or damaged. Could end up in group with pro level players or beginners.

If I had to make a choice now, would go for the different experience. Knowing how popular that event has become, getting one of the 432 spots is not as easy as it initially sounds.

Actually decided on the most financially prudent choice especially with the potential covid situation.

139 grams

In October 2019, I played a one day event at Rogers Lakewood Park in Valparaiso, IN. Though a person who chugged more cans of Coors Light than he has discs in his bag beat me by a shot, I managed to finish in the last cash spot and was talked into getting a 139g Blizzard Katana. 

Blizzard plastic is lighter than other ones used and as a pro tested in a video, a player can throw it faster. I had purchased one before but it was so over stable, I could not throw it so was skeptical but figured I would give it a shot. On my way back to the car threw it and took off but went right into a couple of pine trees. It took five minutes in the fading light to find it.

I tried it after with mixed results including putting it way right into the dog park at 50 Acre on the alt hole towards the practice basket and it was the disc used for my two black aces on 1 at Fairfield Park in Round Lakes that December.

The following summer it was the disc I lost way right on 10 at Highland past 16 fairway that was eventually found by another player which I had to make a trip to Lockport to get out of the shed at Trinity.

In spite of that, that disc when thrown correctly can go 20-25 feet farther than anything else I can throw downwind. Last Sunday, doing so on #2 at Lemon Lake White got me in a position where I was able to throw a full Leopard to get a birdie.

The week before that was at Foxdale Park in Addison where the first three holes are bordered by the wall blocking noise from the connection between Interstate 355N and Interstate 290E. After a drive with my Leopard on 3 from the path as the tee was muddy, took out my Katana and launched it over the wall. 

I skipped 4&5 and when done, stopped along the expressway and among weeds one which cut my knee badly, found that disc.

One of the reasons I went to retrieve that disc is that I have purchased a couple other Blizzard plastic discs since to get a back up but unfortunately they fly like the first one I got and not that Katana which has almost become irreplaceable.

The following day, went to Madison Meadows. While getting my equipment, braces, and shoes, another car pulls up and two adults walk out to #1 carrying between them three discs. Since I had to work later that day, figured I could eventually pass them.

On #2 saw the left handed player throw a disc that as expected finished to the right and had an idea what was going to happen on #3 where the disc barely skipped into the pond that is on the right.

Knowing where it went in, hurried to the spot, removed my handle from by cart, and laid on the ground trying to retrieve the disc while one player was watching me.

Then I hear in a voice that sounded off, "Can I use this disc?" which the person next to me said would be fine.

I look back and filled with rage that made the time earlier this year when a dog took the only dry towel out of my bag seem calm, announced in a tone people could hear a block away, " THAT'S MY DISC!". I literally had to rip it out of his hands before putting it back into the bag he was standing next to before marching off to play #4.

Yes, it was the same Katana which is kept by itself in the side of the bag. It did not fall out. While I was helping the person retrieve his disc, he helped himself to one of mine. Thinking about it later, the two people were a father and adult son and the son appeared to be not fully aware of what he was doing and it is possible his father thought the disc was found and not taken from the bag. At least I hope that was the case as opposed to him thinking since I have a full bag of them, I could spare one.

I do carry backups in my car and have given some to other players to keep and in this case would have definitely offered one of them so they could keep playing.

Anyway when I was on #12 was asked how I am doing and stated lousy since someone tried to steal a disc from my bag while I was trying to help him retrieve a lost one. That was followed by a conversation explaining the difference between discs including showing the police officer the Katana with a slightly faded SHERLOCK 33461 written on the back side in black marker.

An open letter to one specific professional disc golfer

Thank you for playing Clash at the Canyons V. I hope you found Dellwood as enjoyable of an experience as I get when I play there.

I enjoyed the time spent there as a volunteer. However, what I could do was limited.

The previous Sunday was my fifth event in a six week period played at Northwood Park where you played in the 2019 Pro Worlds. That along with five league rounds, and way too much practice in that time frame became too much for my obese, arthritic 55 year old broken down body. After almost falling badly once each round that day, I was in so much body pain after the event could not stay in the car more than 30 minutes at a time on the 150+ mile drive home.

Though I wanted to do UDisc tracking for a group or spot on a hole (like I did last October at an event run by Dan Schlitter), it was best for me to stand guard at Clash #3 to make sure spectators and local park patrons would not head down the stairs to where they could get hit by those playing #4. After leaving tournament central on Saturday while carrying a hot dog and my chair, stumbled into a golf cart on my tired legs so it was a good thing I did not have to deal with navigating the course like I did in the am version of the event two weeks previously.

I was also spotting for #2 and on multiple occasions informed players where to mark their mini after going OB as well as answering questions by spectators who entered the course at that location.

It was an enjoyable experience watching friends and players while chatting with families of players as the made their way through #3 & #4.

For some reason your sarcastic comment to me stands out. I am familiar with the idea of not letting one negative comment offset all the positive ones received in two days from those who finished 117th as well as 1st (in three of the four divisions) but it does.

While driving home thought about myself and my game which I realized was not at the level where I could play MP50 at Clash and though am registered later this month for MP50 at Fairfield Park in Round Lake, am fully aware that I head there overmatched.

I now have new personal goals:

Get to 500 points to qualify for the 2022 Worlds in MA55+

Get back on the medication for my inflammatory arthritis which I decided to stop taking last year since the medication leaves me immunocompromised which I did not want to be during a pandemic

Decrease the physical load I put on my body by 10%. Reducing intake is the best way to do so and it will not be easy but that needs to happen if I want to maximize my limited potential.

I am hoping the last two will allow me to get my game to the point where I would feel comfortable playing MP50 at next year's Clash where I would hope to run into you on a practice day and thank you for inspiring me to be more than a stair guard.

Anyway, I want to personally invite you to play in Wacky Wednesday Fore in Evergreen Park, IL on August 18. If you do play, I will pay your entry fee as well as adding $100 to the pro payout. You will get a towel with a cartoon drawing of me on it and if you win, a trophy with one as well. The director of the event, Mike Walsh, knows about this and who you are.

Good luck with the rest of your 2021 season and am looking forward to seeing you again.

Ken Sherlock 

PDGA #33461

Making a choice

I encounter multiple views on the subject of abortion weekly from posts, news articles, and the nearby clinic which usually has protesters on the sidewalk on Saturday mornings.

This is the logic I use when dealing with this subject:

I do not like the idea of terminating a fetus. There is only one way for an unplanned pregnancy to happen and those who get pregnant should need to own up to their action.

However, there are situations where terminating a pregnancy is the correct thing to do (in spite of what my former Congressional representative Joe Walsh stated). 

If a fetus is determined to be non viable or dead, forcing a woman to deliver would be cruel.

If being pregnant puts the woman's life at risk, forcing her to deliver would be dangerous.

If the pregnancy resulted from a crime, forcing her to deliver would be unfair.

Anyone who disagrees with those three concepts really needs to examine their morals and imagine if that woman was their daughter.

There is one problem with allowing abortion in those cases: Where to draw the line on who is or isn't eligible. This is the same problem encountered when determining whose lives could be prematurely terminated to improve the human race.

(Side note: I could imagine the movie scene where I die as the song Joy by Apollo 100 plays followed by the caption: The Madman on the Loose is dead... And by one person, the world is a better place.)

Having guidelines to determine who is eligible for abortion would cause people to deliberately harm themselves to qualify for one the same way some people who are unable to get one do anyway.

The idea of making abortion a choice for all becomes logical in a world where population is increasing and the long term survival of the human race is not threatened by it.

Playing a sport

I often state I am a disc golfer with 850 ability and 1050 intensity which can occasionally make things frustrating and more difficult than necessary as I treat the sport like those on the pro tour.

Recently got into an online argument stating the first rule of disc golf is never hit someone with a disc as opposed to the founder of the sport who stated it is "have fun". Over this weekend, a local hole was rerouted due to players having fun as opposed to respecting the property that bordered the course.

There was another an online disagreement about enforcing disc golf rules and I stated unless it is obvious or gives another player a significant advantage, I won't call it.

If I see another player do something out of inexperience that does not really help, I won't call it but mention so the player can learn.

On both open amateur cards at an event last year got the other three on the card mad at me after calling out a significant violation (playing from OB and moving a branch out of the way with the left hand to give a path to throw).

Also lost an event last year by stopping the person who beat me by one shot from playing a shot while his back foot was OB which would have incurred a one shot penalty.

Anyway, to what inspired this post:

The routing from 11-12 at 50 Acre park has confused players as it goes a sharp angle to the right causing people to think 15 which is left but easier to notice is next. Two weeks previously at a club round, players unfamiliar with the course walked to 15, saw the sign, and had to walk back to 12.

In round two, a group went the wrong way in spite of arrows painted into the ground and started to play the hole. The group behind them which apparently did not either notice their error or attempt to stop them just passed them on the course.

One of the players who played the wrong hole ended up tied for second and got upset when I mentioned to the TD what happened. He confronted me about taking the game too seriously. Here is an example of what was stated:

If you want to call out rules, play pro.

That is not a serious offense.

Why does it matter if we played the wrong hole since we did not count it?

Would you have called out yourself for doing that?

We are playing for fun.

My replies (or what I wished I would have said)

I would love to play pro and I am actually registered for a July event in MP50+ (mixed pro 50+) but I am currently trying to qualify to again play in the world championship as an amateur like I did in 2019 where all rules are strictly enforced.

Playing a hole out of order is specifically listed in the rules (was not 100% sure it was at the time) and throwing the hole out of sequence in the middle of the round can give a player an advantage and if it did not count it could help a player decide on their shot when played for real. Anyway, how did all four make that mistake in round two after playing it correctly in round one?

If the hole was not completed, all shots made before the error should be considered a practice shot with only a one stroke penalty each. If the hole was completed, two shots would be added to the score for the hole made the first time played and technically shots made the second time playing the hole would be considered practice shots penalized one each.

I called a stance violation against myself four weeks ago that the others in my group did not see nor wanted to enforce but I insisted needed to be applied. Also on the (10)A temp hole, my right foot was less than an inch from the line on my drive and mentioned to the group that I almost foot faulted.

I never want to win because another player made a mistake and got penalty strokes but find worse a player winning in spite of making a mistake that would incur a penalty but not having one assessed.

WE ARE PLAYING A SPORT! (Really wanted to say that but also did not want to get into a fight).

New update

10PM: Home from long day delivering/work/delivering. Daughter tells me Apex Legends server crashed earlier due to demand and goes to bedroom before I fell asleep on couch

1AM: Got off couch, use bathroom, turn off light, get to bed. Gaming in bedroom.

5AM: Wake up for good. Check things on line. Gaming in bedroom still happening.

7:30 AM: Reminded delivery schedule starts at eight, head to shower. Gaming still happening.

7:40 AM: Out of shower. No gaming.

"All night gaming session over?"

"It wasn't all night."

"I've been hearing it the last 9+ hours."

"I took a two hour nap."

"Anyway, I have to head to work. Back in 14 hours, 12 1/2 if too tired to deliver after."

Eligibility

Though listed as one event on the site, rated disc golf tournaments with very few exceptions have two or more divisions. Though some events have qualifications to be eligible to participate, generally only the open pro division is available to all players. All other divisions are restricted to enter which can be based on age, amateur status, amateur ability, and or sex.

I even switched divisions at an event to balance the number of entries because a new player ended up getting an initial rating too high for the entered division.

This is done for fairness as it makes no sense for a top pro or a beginner to be facing me on even terms. My initial plan was to create a chart showing how I along with several unnamed players would would be eligible for the various divisions many tournaments have but I realize it would distract from the point of this entry.

There is a reason for female specific divisions let alone this May 8 which is women's player day and I really want my daughter to spend her 21st birthday at an event at KLM park in Hinsdale but I realize playing a tournament on the birthday is my plan for 2021. At least I am glad she has no desire to party and get drunk with her aunts and cousin.

I expressed disappointment that featured first round coverage at the 2019 US Disc Golf Championship had the top female player in the world. Though she could easily beat me, she was as close to the top male players as I was three months previously to the top MA50+ players at the Amateur World Championship.

One of the top female 50+ players in the world is from the Chicago area. The last three times her and I played at the same event I went 1-1-1 against her. Though I am at best an upper half 50 year old amateur, a female my age with my ability would have a great chance to become a world champion.

Anyway, some states are taking extreme measures to ensure that female school athletes are female. Though I agree with the desire to make sure ALL participants are eligible for any event they wish to enter, genital exams should not be the solution.

I remember two events with my daughter's grade school soccer. There was one game where I swore that the other team was a different age group which was confirmed when one of the parents from the other team stated the age and another where I had to literally go on the field and carry my daughter off since she was scared after a boy while goofing around bumped heads with her.

I would want to see the honor system be used but many have taken advantage of it or insisted that since they identify as a female them can compete as one. Somehow people from both sides need to find a logical and dignified solution.

The Rittenhouse Effect

Before people started dying of an illness many people still ignore, I theorized about what a person needs to do anything then applied it towards killing many others. Though I initially stated three things, I later adjusted to these four:

Desire 

Opportunity 

Equipment 

Ability 

I then theorized that equipment is the easiest thing to eliminate without changing society and stated that this has already been done in the cases where many were killed with a homemade bomb.

I recently realized there is a different way to eliminate the opportunity of killing many without creating a police state and that would be to arm everyone. As some pro gun people have stated, it would provide an immediate response as well as being a potential deterrent (which I have seen done at a house of worship) to those who want to kill many.

However, this would cause what I call "The Rittenhouse Effect". This is named after the 17 year old who brought an assault rifle to Kenosha, Wisconsin with the desire to deter protestors from attacking businesses.

I am fully aware that the protest started after a situation where the police were justified in their actions as opposed to killing a man while detaining him a month previously. That is a different post for another time.

What happened was that the kid reacted to something behind him by turning around and opening fire killing a person then when police ignored him and others tried to apprehend him, he fired in defense killing another.

In a fully open armed society this type of situation could become as commonplace as car accidents and the number that die from accidental shootings could total far more than the total from mass shootings.

It's a "W" by the numbers

My 2021 season opened at the same place the 2020 season ended, Fairfield Park in Round Lake. Par Kings, the group which ran the event, did an amazing job getting the course ready and am excited to play more events at that course.

Number of players in MA40 division: 11

Number who had to withdraw upon realizing he had another event rescheduled to the same day: 1

Round one gold course:

Years since I played complete 18 hole course as the optional #19 was used for warm up: 4

Times having worst drive but best group score on the hole: 1

Times having the best drive with worst group score on the hole: 2

Relationship to par on the six par four holes: +8

Total failed shots in round one: 14

Total score/ relation to what I consider par since a 495 foot hole up a hill should be a par 4: 80/+14

Score equal to my rating: 73.5

Previous worst round on course (where after I left bag in garbage can only to return when I realized my house keys were still in it: 78

Place/ shots out of first: T3/5

Round two white course:

Total distamce in feet from basket on first two drives: 25

Score to par on 4-7: +4

Shots out of first after #7: 7

Birdies in next seven holes: 6

Drives that hit metal: 1

Total distance of the six birdie holes: 1,080 feet

Consecutive made putts that did not hit chains: 3

Shots in first on #15 tee before failed drive and putt led to bogey: 2

Feet from pin on #18 drive making putt to go back up by two: 10

Players who needed to ace #18 to tie me and force a playoff like what happened in a division an hour previously: 2

Birdies in round two: 9

Total score/to par: 54/-3

Shots off personal best on course: 1

Score that equals my rating: 55.6

Number of failed shots: 7

Overall:

Margin of win: 1

Career wins listed: 7

Actual wins: 6

Players beaten in previous five wins: 10

Players beaten in this one: 10

Points earned of the 500 needed to qualify for 2022 World's: 44

Number of other players in division with rating within two shots per round 2

Number of players in division with rating more than 5 worse per round: 5

Number of unrated players in division: 3

Where I would have finished in 16 player division based on my rating as opposed to age: tied for 9th

Minimum number of shots lost by playing stupid: 8

Number of people who have or will congratulate me on a win which for the madman the mostly unacceptable performance overshadows the victory: many

Virtually at home

Currently listening to the virtual Marscon music track as in person would not yet work. Had the 2020 event been the second March weekend as it has been in the past as opposed to the first one, it is likely it would have not happened as well.

Since in 2015 when I realized my time, energy, vacation, and money needed to go towards something I can do as opposed to watching people do things I can't, wearing a t shirt I have not worn since the last time I made the 400+ mile trip in 2016.

Though I still believe my decision was correct remembering my experience at the 2019 AM worlds, part of me still misses being there and 10 AM will mark the fourth straight Marscon Saturday 10AM at the course where my next event is scheduled to be held for the quest for 500 to reenforce my decision.

Been wanting to travel out of town for an event during that weekend but remember too late to register.

Twice the age and size

After multiple activities were closed due to pandemic regulations in March 2020, some professional disc golfers decided to make videos doing things.

One of them was the ten foot challenge. The idea is to start ten feet from the basket and go ten feet further every time a shot is made the idea to see how far someone can get in an hour. Final distances for various known professionals ranged from 120 to 190 feet.

I was curious to see how a man twice the age and in many cases weight would do especially since my approach game is considered my biggest strength.

On an April Friday afternoon, I went to a park with a whole bunch of discs and my portable practice basket and after measuring ten foot increments, started.

There were three objectives...

1) See how far I could get. duh. To be honest, I was disappointed with the result. There were some discs that were not suitable and with it being a bit windy, the longer shots became more difficult than anticipated as I fatigued.

2) See if using a putter for approach shots was viable. Having never practiced it in earnest, found out that day using putters is viable. Three of the throws that were made were with a putter and not a midrange disc.

I can attribute part of my improved play in 2020 to that afternoon.

3) Have a video made of this showcasing my daughter's skills that she learned at home and at the class she took at Illinois Media School.

She recorded with her camera and phone and had an idea on how to make it work and I was very excited to see how the video would turn out where I thanked the many people who ran tournaments, clubs, and stores where I purchased or received the discs I used.

The video never was made. Every request about when ended up with an excuse followed by her playing a game on the computer or watching a video. A month later, I noticed caramel on the top disc and on sides of discs that she was going to use pictures in the video.

Occasionally my disgust with her shows and people have called me out on it. As someone who considers himself the biggest investor, the video was meant to judge and showcase her skills and it has become a failure.

Anyway, I got to 100 feet. The first attempt from 110 feet hit the band and no other attempt from distance over the last 12 minutes came that close.

Prop bet 2021

Thanks to the new law, I now actually have wagers for the NFL Championship Game so there is no longer a fantasy pool but a real one. However, far less money is being wagered than the fantasy one. Anyway...

KC -12.5 (+310) $2

KC win 13-18 (+750) $2

Watkins TD (+210) $2

Brate TD (+240) $2

TB 17 points exactly (+900) $2

KC 30 points exactly (+1500) $2

KC 30 TB 17 exactly (+17000) $2

INT for TD (+650) $2

Parlay: Brate TD, Watkins TD, KC -9.5 (+3387) $5

Parlay: Manchester City win, Chi/Dal over 5.5 goals, KC win (+402) $2

Four banana, two banana, one banana, three

After getting paid $16 to deliver a dozen Krispy Kreme donuts in Rosemont on New Years Day during an increasing worsening winter storm during a pandemic, was heading home when the Banana Splits theme song started to play. After I parked, stayed in the car to finish "singing".

After it ended as I got out of the car, phone dinged with a double pickup. 6.5 miles, $28. First one was Taco Bell. Pulled in and told they won't have food for 30 minutes. Went to Wendy's and support stated they called Taco Bell, was told they have food, and I should go back. Person at drive through stated they won't have food for 25 minutes.

I hate unassigning orders and even called the customer trying to get her to cancel but I had to do that after delivering the Wendy's. Got another pickup heading to a hotel on Mannheim just southwest of O'Hare.

After ending my dash, got on Irving which gently winds around the southern border of the airport. A car going 50 in front of me lost control in the snow and ended up on the median between traffic. By going 40 and with 4 wheel drive that I used for the first time and anti lock brakes stopped in plenty of time and am glad those behind me did as well.