Getting Back into the Swing after all of the Time Off

It is a difficult transition from vacation to work, especially when it happens in the middle of the week. I struggled last week to get my mind back into work mode after the sun and fun of Hawaii. I am in the middle of working on bonuses, and bonus plans for 2008, as well as a large relicensing project for all of our agencies that is due on January 31st. That alone is helping me with focus on a nice, sunny Monday morning.

The weekend was relaxing and Darla and I took advantage of a cooler, overcast weekend to get caught up on our rest and down time. We watched a number of good films: 3:10 to Yuma, Shattered, Lonely Hearts and Griffin & Phoenix, all good films that you can rent at your local video store. I did play golf on Saturday and struggled with my almost four week layoff, as expected. I shot 45+43=88 and my short game and putting were abysmal. My drives were long and straight, so at least I've got something going for me. I will play both weekend days next weekend with a tune-up game on Saturday at Diamond Oaks and then my first tournament of the year at Lincoln Hills golf course in Lincoln. Interestingly, I just had a call from the President of the Lincoln Hills golf club and he was interested in trying to set up a home and home event with our two clubs next year. Actually, he wanted to do it this year, but our schedule is set and we are playing his course this weekend (he didn't know that). I also have poker at my house on Friday night, so it is a games weekend coming up.

My interest in the NFL playoffs took a hit this weekend when Dallas slept-walked through their playoff game against the Giants and lost. I think this is the Patriots year. They are so solid in every facet of the game. They won this past weekend convincingly over a good Jacksonville squad without Randy Moss being involved in the game at all. As it is, I have golf this next weekend and won't have to rush home to watch football.

I talked to Jennifer this weekend and she is planning to come out next month to visit. Her Mom offered to pay her way on a flight, but Jennifer wants a car and is thinking of driving out and staying two weeks. I'm not too comfortable with her driving with Samantha, but Jennifer will make up her own mind. I know that much about my daughter. It will be GREAT to spend some time with Samantha and Jennifer. John is the plowhorse and will be home making money for the family. Samantha is doing great. She gets fussy and was crying when we talked on the phone, but it is all normal. Jennifer is coming out because her Mom is having surgery. She has a serious thyroid problem and a tumor in her thymus gland. Her thyroid was being radiated and she will be on thyroid medication for the rest of her life. She also has Graves Disease, but is very optimistic that her health will be much better after surgery. Jennifer will be here to help her during and after the surgery. I'm sure just having Samantha nearby will really help her get better. Please pray for Diane. She has lost alot of weight and does believe in the power of prayer. I have her on our prayer chain at church and with our life group as well.

My first meeting as President of the golf club was one for the books. It was cloudy and rainy last Thursday and the restaurant at Diamond Oaks decided to close early and left us without a venue for the meeting. Someone from the restaurant called me about 2:30 and told me (our meeting was scheduled for 6:00PM). I quickly called as many on the board as I could reach and also e-mailed everyone. I remembered about three years ago we had met at a Sports bar in downtown Old Roseville called the Sports Page. I called them as they have a room in the back that is private. They were "thrilled" to have us come out. That should have been my first clue of a problem. I arrived at 6:20 PM after sitting at Diamond Oaks to make sure that no one showed up at the course expecting the meeting. I was met by Charlie and Freida a married couple on the board. Freida said the place was a bug infested dump and she wouldn't go in. The place had devolved into a dump with pool tables with torn felt and broken chairs and tables and a musty smell of wet insulation. She was right, but the board was coming and I presided over my first meeting sitting at the end of a worn pool table, drinking a Bud Light while Freida sat in her Lexus outside and ten of us got the business of the club taken care of.

Well, work as always awaits my attention. I had four members of my staff call in sick this morning and one showed up and had her son call from school. He had thrown up and she had to go pick him up. Nice start to the week. Ciao.