Signs of Spring Around the Corner

The sun is out today after another three day weekend of rain, wind, clouds, intermittent sunshine and even two tornadoes and a water spout hitting in Sacramento. I took yesterday off, President's Day here in the good old U. S. of A. Darla had the day off and we were given a floating holiday this year to use as we see fit. It seemed to fit for me. Darla had the day off. She basically gets every holiday and even some that they make up like Happy Monday and Mental Health Friday. I get seven days off a year and a couple of weeks of vacation.

I played golf in the two day qualifier for Spyglass. My partner, Boyd, went to the event last year when he and his partner, Dave Armijo, qualified. I came to find out two days before the event that an obscure rule made Boyd and I ineligible for the qualifier. He went last year and cannot go this year. The rule in fact is not even in the rule book, it was decided back in the late '90's when the same group went three years in a row. I was fine with it and we were still eligible to win money, so we played. Boyd felt bad and offered to back out and let me get another partner. It was wet, windy, muddy and not the best of conditions for golf. Boyd and I ham and egged it on Saturday and shot a 66 to trail the leaders by 6 strokes. I shot 42+42= 84 and Boyd shot 35+41=76. We were 6 under after nine holes and six under after eighteen. The story of our weekend was poor play on the back side. We did birdie number nine and won a $40 skin, but could have scored so much better. Sunday, we again shot 66 and this time we were five under after nine and managed only one under for the back nine. I shot 42+44=86 and Boyd shot 35+42=87. We were 11 under on the front side and only 1 under on the back for the weekend. I had a blast and really enjoy playing with Boyd, who is a solid 6 handicapper and an even tempered, decent man and a great golfer. My only problem with him is that he is a Morman and I don't think we'll be playing golf together in the afterlife.

I took Darla to dinner on Saturday night at Shanghai Fat's, the new upscale Chinese food restaurant at Thunder Valley Casino in Lincoln. This is the Indian Casino run by the Station Casino chain out of Las Vegas. The casino now boasts 14 restaurants (8 of them in the food court) and even has a Non Smoking room for those of us that can't stand the smoke. Dinner was excellent and we even managed to leave the casino about $60 ahead of what we walked in with thanks to a video poker machine that produced four aces with a three kicker for a $200 jackpot before we left. As soon as they build the hotel on site, we may even be able to get Dad and Shirley to come out to California for a visit.

Darla and I were supposed to go up to Reno Sunday night, but the weather did not cooperate and the passes were covered in snow and chains were required. Not my idea of fun to slog about in the snow, so we stayed home and I again treated Darla to lunch at Thunder Valley. We used a coupon and had burgers at Fatburger (Dad and Shirley, this is the same chain as the burger joint on the strip in Las Vegas). With the coupon and gambling, our lunch only cost us about $140. We had fun but couldn't catch a cold on the machines. Luckily we don't hit the Indian Casino much as I think their machines are wound just a hair tighter than they are in Vegas and Reno.

David's basketball team did win their last game last week and entered the playoffs as the number ten seed and second place in their division. A number ten seed travels and our first game is against Downey in Modesto on Wednesday. David is still hurting from smacking heads with a teamate in practice. He got the stitches out yesterday, but the wound opened back up. It is right on his left eyebrow and they put surgical tape over it to hold it closed.

David also will begin an internship at a Sacramento Engineering firm. His job will involve working on the CAD system (Computer Assisted Design) as well as doing all of the "go-fer" legwork for the architects and engineers at the firm. The firm specializes in design and engineering of industrial items, including gangplanks and gangways for cruise ships. It should be a fascinating job and he gets paid to do the job. David wants to be a CAD specialist for a design and engineering firm when he gets out of college and this apprenticeship will allow him to get some hands on experience. Leave it to David to make his first real job such a good one. He's not about to bag groceries or fries for a salary. The kid is something else. How about your little (6'4") brother, eh Jen?

Darla and I are in our third week of the 40 Days of Purpose at church. One of the couples in our study is moving to Austin and I may hook them up with Darryl. They are still looking for a house and won't move until the school year is over, but have been looking in the Georgetown area.

I haven't heard much from Jennifer lately. She sent Darla and I a beautiful arrangement of flowers and a teddy bear forValentine's day. Very cute and very appreciated. She is now the full time Armorer for her unit. She will take the Sergeant's test on March 1st, so say a prayer for her. It means more money and more honor in the military and the girl deserves it.

I lost out in the sweepstakes to hire Pete Morrison. He was interviewing with a competitor and they ended up paying him a signing bonus of $15,000. I was willing to trade a first round draft choice, but the cupboard was bare for signing money. Amazing, when you get into a competition how a family run business can compete so much better than a national company because of things like that. Our salary was better, but they have a good ESOP program and a comparable bonus program. I hated to lose him, but told him that I would have made the same choice he did. I can't blame him. They wanted him and were willing to pay to get him.

Well, there is a ton of work waiting for me and I better get at it. I hope all are well. Keep your eye on the Lord and your feet on His path and all will be bliss. Ciao.