Saturday Golf Tournament Report

Today we had our annual Rotary Club Golf Tournament -- Bogies and Stogies -- chaired by my good friend and golf buddy, Chris Mahr (pictured here). Kirby Rowe, John Wieber, Arron Olsen and I were his committee members.

We had about 104 players and 58 hole sponsors. In total I think we raised about $8,000 net for the club, which we will hand out as scholarships to high school seniors next year.

My team was composed of Brian Brunderman, who rebuilt my house after Hurricane Charley; Dr Kevin Van Nostern, a young chiropracter and all round fun guy (currently dating someone named Tyffiany who was in Paula's hig school class); and Phil Britian, who sells memberships for a national small business lobby and has a very interesting prior life. Unfortunately for me, other than Kevin, neither Phil nor Brian were of much help to the team. (Sorry guys.) The format was a four-man scramble, where you each hit and then play the best of 4 shots. We purhased 20 mulligans and used them all and still could only manage a 68 -- or 3 under par for the round. The third place group (Chris Mahr's) shot 57 -- to show you how far off the pace we were!

We had a good time anyway and I think the field had fun as well. Most of this was organized in the last month or so, with Chris doing the heavy lifting. Thankfully, this is the last golf tournament of the year. I participate in MANY as I am known to be golfer and charitably inclined. If I wanted to, I think I could play in a charity golf tournament every weekend around here.

Despite having chemo yesterday, I felt fine. I went to bed eary (10:30 PM) as I had to get up at 5:20 AM to help prepare for the golf tournament. I slept rather fitfully (the steroids) so I had no trouble getting up early. I arrived at 6 AM and spent most of the time putting up the hole signs. We had a shot gun start at 8 AM followed by lunch. We were done at 2 PM and Chris and Kirby wanted to play a bit more, so we went out and played nine more holes (compliments of the golf club). I just got home and I am feeling just fine. I had a hard time eating lunch (chicken sandwich) and oddly enough saw Dave Rice (my radiologist) at the tournament. Dave is a scratch player. I tried to get him on my team when I saw him Tuesday, but he had already agreed to play for Fawcett Hospital. Damn.

I played golf on Wednesday, again today, and tomorrow I play in my league. For someone who is sick and being treated for cancer, I'd say I'm doing pretty good Wouldn't you? Just hope I can keep going for a while. I am sooo tempted to tell Chris and Kirby they have been playing against a guy with lung cancer, undergoing chemo and radiation -- and I am STILL taking their money. When I can no longer play with them, I plan to steer them to this website.

When I got home I saw that Paula had purchased a ring for herself, June and Jessie. Let me read you the card she sent Jessie: " I bought this ring so that each of us has a way of keeping Dad in our thoughts daily. All three of us now own the same ring. Its a friendship, family, sisterhood & congratulory ring. I hope you like it. PS Good luck with your new job June! Love Paula".

THANK YOU PAULA! It would be nice to think that this thing I have will bring all of us closer together, even though we are physically far apart. I think of you all contantly and miss you. Speaking of which....

I have to run to watch FSU and UF play. June went to UF; Paula went to FSU and that is where Jessie is currently going to school. I am going to have to go with UF...only cause I think FSU does not have a chance, Mom is cheering for the underdog FSU and we NEVER agree on who we want to win. Anyway, June is further away from home than anyone else at the moment. So...Go Gators!