Thanks Be To God!

The title comes from a small display that one of the neighbors put in their yard and decorated with pumpkins and autumn colors. I thought it was unique for Thanksgiving. Luckily it didn't have lights or a twirling turkey. The holiday displays get tackier every year.

The boys have come and gone like a 400 lb whirlwind. Wash was done, food was eaten, conversations were had and gallons of milk were consumed. We forgot how quickly a gallon of milk disappears with them in the house. The bottom picture above was taken on Thanksgiving as we were hosted by Alicia's boyfriend, Don, at his home in Folsom. He fixed turkey and all the trimmings and I watched the Cowboys win again. It is a Thanksgiving tradition.

We had the boys over Wednesday night and Darla fixed a turkey. The boys spent Thanksgiving with their dad and had Pot Roast because he doesn't like turkey. We saved our leftovers and hosted the gang on Friday for game day. Everyone arrived about noon and we played Sequence, Rook, 10,000 (a dice game) and the ladies poured over a puzzle. Football was on in the background, but held little interest as it was college ball and none of the BCS top teams were playing. Friday morning I raked leaves and sprayed down the driveway and walks, careful to keep an eye out for my militant senior neighbor who feels it is his place to control the use of water by private citizens in Roseville. I was thinking about that old coot the other day and realized that his clothes and he himself looked a little ratty. Perhaps he has given up bathing and washing his clothes. He's either a good little Democrat or it is the onset of dementia. I then went over to Diamond Oaks and hit a bucket of balls and worked on my putting stroke for an hour.

The practice paid off on Saturday as we played Cherry Island Golf Course a tougher track that seems to invite the hordes of once a year golfers after Thanksgiving. It was foggy in Elverta, yet full sun in Roseville, and we endured a twenty minute delay as the first groups were late getting off due to visibility. We warmed up and watched several of the groups in front of us barely get off the tee and one guy who whiffed three times before he finally hit a worm burner straight right into the driving range fence. There was much muttering among the gathered golfers. To what possible enjoyment is playing a game that you cannot properly play on a course that is clearly over any semblance of ability that you have? There is a county owned pitch and putt course not 1/2 mile down the street that was ripe for these guys' business. I digress. We finally teed off at 9:30 for our 9:08 AM tee time. I managed a birdie on the first hole, but little did I know that we were in for a six hour round of golf. I kept my game and my temper in check on the way to three birdies and a smooth 35 on the front side. The back side finally got to me as we had backups on nearly every hole and I ballooned to a 42 on the back and a 77 for the round, my best score at Cherry Island. It took us 2 hours and 45 minutes to play the front nine and 3 hours and fifteen minutes to play the back. I was remembering my 3 hour and fifteen minute round of 74 in Modesto a month ago with some outright nostalgia. It was brutal and I was thrilled to shoot such a low score under the conditions. The fog lifted and it was sunny and nice from the second hole on, but the human refuse continued to cover the course all afternoon. I like the guys, but hadn't planned to spend the entire period of daylight with them. Boyd shot 75, Darren had a 92 and Bob shot a 102. The top picture is of Bob and his wife, Debbie. We went out to dinner Saturday night and enjoyed getting caught up on their lives.

Jennifer spent Thanksgiving away from Samantha and missed her a lot. She went out to dinner at a friend's house and worked on Saturday. Her shift at the Encore (Steve Wynn's new casino next to the Wynn) ended on Saturday and she'll be back at the City Center project on Monday. Jennifer told me Saturday night that she is trying to arrange to fly to Sacramento for Christmas. Darla and I are thrilled and hope that it happens as we will miss Samantha's first birthday on December 21st. Jennifer's Mom, Diane, will be there. I hope that Jenn and Sam do make it home as I'd like to see Jennifer and spend some time with Samantha.

Darla and I almost overslept this morning, but managed to get up and go to church this morning and it was a great finale to Rick's sermon series on money traps. Today's theme was all about living for today and not storing away for the morrow. He read the Genesis story of the 7 year famine and how God tries to teach us to prepare for the next famine (disaster), but that too many of us are focused on our needs and wants today and don't plan for tomorrow. It is a theme that is close to my heart as I look forward to retirement while trying to help two boys through college now. I don't want to have to work to 67 because I didn't plan well enough. I am working on an emergency fund that would get Darla and I through at least six months if one of us were hurt or laid off. The discussion and sermon are very timely.

Rick also brought us current on the troubles in India. We support a pastor, Ajai Lal, and his wife who plant home based Christian churches in India. You are all aware of the well publicized problems in Mumbai and the takeover of the luxury hotels Taj Mahal and Oberoi, but it is just a small sample of what is happening in India. Teams of terrorists are attacking Christians and bounties are put on the heads of any Christian (50,000 rupies) and Christian pastors (100,000 rupies) and for burning a Christian's home (25,000 rupies) or burning a Christian Church (100,000 rupies). This all started in August and scores of Christians have been forced out of their villages and into the jungle where they are in hiding. ALL Christian churches which had recently come out of hiding have gone back underground. Our church took a collection this morning that will go to the Christian Outreach organizations that are finding these displaced people and offering them food and shelter. It is a sad time in India right now.

I just got an e-mail from NCGA on the handicaps for December and I've dropped to an 8.3. I think I'm officially a golfer.

Well, that's all for now. I have my final board meeting Tuesday night for the Roseville Golf Club and Saturday is our Christmas party. Friday the board plays golf and then Sunday is our final golf tournament of the year. Stay well and pray for India. Ciao.