Ryder Cup

The visit to Medinah and the practice rounds of the Ryder Cup were more than I had hoped for.
We started out Tuesday morning at 7:30 and the crowds were not too bad. We parked at the forest preserve for free, hopped on a shuttle bus and were at the course in 10 minutes. Very easy!

We started walking the course and when we got to 3 we knew that we had to stop there. There were bleachers for the guys to sit and watch, which were empty, and Sharen and I planted ourselves right out side the walkway between holes about 20 ft from the cup and 15 ft from the green. Prime location for pictures. We had to stand around for about 3.5 hours before all the golfer came through, but that was OK we met some young twin boys, Kyle and Andrew from Fl. They wanted to get a picture so Andrew could post it on facebook, so I had the guy take one of us for my blog. Kyle thought I was pretty cool cause I blogged. We passed the time talking twin.

All the members of the Europe team signed autographs. No one was signing for the American team but Matt Kuchar. Standing right in front of us was a boy clearly going through Chemo. Kuchar stopped, signed his flag and his hat, and chatted with him for a good minute. I heard the conversation and got choked up big time. The Amercain team did hand out RC pins and told all the kids they would sign after the round. Not sure if that happened because we were long gone by then.

After all the golfers came through Mike and Dup wanted to walk around the course and the only thing Sharen and I wanted to do was SIT DOWN somewhere. We decided on the 13th green to watch them hit up on a par 3. Not thinking the boys took off with both cell phones and the money. Sharen sat there for awhile while I headed over to the first fairway to get some pics of the captain/celebrity scramble. When I got back we both decided we were thirsty and tired and wanted to shop and get something to eat before heading home. We both borrowed cell phones to try and call the boys. No Answer. Ugh! They finally show up and we head over to the gift shop, grab a bite to eat, and head on home. 3:30pm. Very successful day 1.

Day 2 started out with a birthday breakfast. Thanks Mike. Got to the course a little later - around 9:45. Stopped for a twin picture in front of Tiger Woods poster!

Sharen was hoping they were signing again today and bought a flag. No such luck! Note to visitors next time go on day one for autographs. We caught some Europe players between holes 1 and 2, but no such luck in any autographs. Bummer! A couple of the American golfers were teeing it up on the backside so we decide to sit in the TALLLLLL bleachers on 17 and watch from there. It was very nice having Mike there - one to take our pictures everywhere and 2 he saved our seat so Sharen and I could run over to the 14th tee off to get some pictures of golfers tee off. Mission accomplished.

People were asking why we had corsages on and we proudly told them that it was our birthday and Sharen's daughter made them for us.

While you wait for golfers to come through you sit or stand around and talk with everyone who is around you. On the 17th green we sat in front of a couple from Ireland. The couple next to us were from Tulsa and they were here for the whole tourney. The most interesting were the four guys sitting in front of us. (I couldn't not sit in the front row). They were from Denver. Yes they were Bronco fans and in true Bronco fashion (Andy) they snuck a flask of whiskey in their pants. It took some convincing on Sharen and my part to stop them from singing Happy Birthday to us. They were convinced that they could get the whole crowd involved. Thanks God for that one. Those poor guys sat there for 5.5 hours and only saw 6 golfers. Most all the golfer had stopped before getting to the 17th hole. They had one more day there so when we left they were planning their tomorrow. Oh Yeah, one of them was a twin too, but his twin wasn't there.

It was a smooth day from getting to the course, getting around the course (even with all the crowds), getting something to eat, shopping in the gift shop and leaving the place. All went really well. No lines for us. We did see some lines for the pottys, but not when we needed them.

Just a few observations. I know they bring in money, but there were way-way too many corporate tents. There had very few bins for recycling - even though everything came in plastic cups or bottles. They could of used more picnic table or places to eat. Behind the first tee were about 30 tables and room for 100 more.
The course looked amazing and when we cut across the fairway you could see they were immaculatly groomed. Big thumbs up to the golf attire on both days. Pin striped pants with navy shirts on Tuesday and red pants with navy shirts on Wednesday. The red.white.blue jackets looked really good too.

 Good Job Medinah... Go USA!!!!
Lots of pictures on my shutterfly......

Myrtle Beach

MB has changed since the last time we were there.
OR maybe I have!
The last vacation we stayed at a golf course so the downtown and the beach weren't part of the equation. This time I took a chances and booked a ocean front condo south of downtown. Mike loves to walk on the beach and I like the sound of the ocean.

We get to our resort and they give us our room key. I walk into the room and tell Mike I don't think I can stay here for a whole week. He calls down to the desk and asks for another room. Oh Boy! Really?
I had a choice to make.
Either we can stay on the first floor (which is actually on the second floor) close to everything including the pool, restaurant, and parking and all the noise right under our balcony.
OR
We can be on 20th floor (penthouse)  REALLY high (I hate heights and am not to fond of elevators). where I would  NOT go out on the balcony all vacation.

We choose:

It turned out not so bad. I loved that we could keep our drapes and sliding door open all the time. The bedroom was at the other end of the condo so I could pretend that we were lower at night for sleeping. It was especially nice when they power washed the pool decks at 7:00 am.

The only problem came on the second night when the fire alarm went off at 1:35 am. We had to evacuate the building and we hoofed it down 20 flights only to be told it's a false alarm.
View from inside our room.

 

I did venture out on to the balcony for short periods of time. Mike is down there somewhere in the ocean.

Mike has talked about playing King's North for several years now. It can get pricey so we just didn't do it. This year for his birthday we played it. The gambler is a par 5 with island fairways. I hit it my first attempt. Mike on his second. Way fun. I took Jon and Erica's wedding golf ball and used it on the par 3's. Thinking the luck would bring me a hole in one. I got 3 pars and then lost it on the 13th island green par 3.

 

We spent the weekend on the beach. Mike under a rented umbrella and me out in the sun.

 

I think we showed our age a few times. We would head to the pool in the late afternoon when it was less crowded. We found our self at the dinner theater instead of the bars. On the last day (travel day) we went downtown and shopped and then took in a movie to pass the time.

I missed our travel partners, Sharen and Dup, big time.

Dear Isaac

I hear you are visiting the United States.

We are planning to go and visit Myrlte for the next week.

I am sure she is not the same Myrlte that broke your heart in High school so please STAY AWAY so we can have a nice visit without drama.
Thank You, Karen and Mike

Cheer Bear

Ever since I made Logan his bronco teddy bear, Kaylyn has been asking for one.

I told her that I did not have enough material to make one and she told me that she would settle for a pink one.

Kaylyn is cheering again this year!
Stacy asked the cheer leader if Kaylyn could cheer for the 10 yr old team so she would have both kids at the same game. Kaylyn is only 7. OK, but she had to pay close attention and keep up with the older girls.

Last week at Logan's football game I found myself watching Kaylyn cheer more that the football game. Sorry Logan. She knew all the cheers, stood still when they weren't cheering, listened, and did  all that she was told. For Kaylyn that is remarkable. She likes the cheers with the dancing.

I knew I had to show her how proud I was of her so I dug out my scrapes from the bronco quilt and scraped together enough to make the body of one teddy bear. I found some blue and orange scrapes and "Cheer Bear' was born.

 She loved it and carried it all around the football fields showing everybody before the game.

 Here she is strutting her stuff with her own pom pons.

Logan caught a touchdown pass and an extra point pass.
Broncos win - another shut out.

Matter of Time

My TV is 14 years old.
It is big and square and heavy.
It is NOT HD or any thing fancy.
But it fits real nice in my TV cabinet where I can close the doors and it is not the focal point of the family room when it is not on, so I didn't mind watching it at all.

Last week when the bears were on it was difficult to see the players clearly and it got very fuzzy when I was watching the PGA golf last weekend.

I told Mike that maybe it was time to get me a new TV.
After he picked his chin up off the floor he headed out to shop.
My only criteria was that it HAD to fit in my cabinet. 35 inches wide.

He came back with a list of prices and sizes of different brands from 6 different locations.

We settled on a 39" Westinghouse.
It has 3/4 of an inch border around it so it is ALL picture and it fits perfect in my cabinet.
So it's out with the old.

 and in with the new.

I must admit I am enjoying the clear HD picture. But I am totally bummed about losing all my recordings on my old DVR.

Ryder Cup

When Sharen and I were deciding how to spend our next big milestone birthday it was a no brainer.

We both love the Ryder cup and it was coming to Medinah on our birthday weekend.

The problem was how to get tickets. You would think a son in the golf business would find a way. Jon just laughed when we talked about it and said "yeah, good luck with that". We have been teasing him for the last 2 years that tickets to the Ryder Cup would make awesome 60th birthday presents.

He did tell us about the lottery for tickets so we both took our chances and signed up for 4 tickets on Tuesday and 4 on Wednesday.

Who would of thunk it - but we both got chosen to buy tickets. We could NOT have been more excited. Until yesterday when the tickets actually came in the mail.

OMG - I have tickets to the practice rounds for the Ryder Cup. We both have a few to sell.

We chose to go to the practice rounds because we didn't want to miss one single shot when the competition starts and the only way to see that is on TV. ( I even bought a new HD TV to watch it)
and the players are a bit more relaxed and responsive to spectators on practice days.

So on Tuesday we are going with our husbands to scope out each hole and where we want to go on Wednesday so we won't waste any time waiting around for some one to show up - and also allow them to buy us each a birthday present in the souvenir tent. :)

On Wednesday, our 60th birthday, we will walk around Medinah together enjoying our day.

And over the weekend you will find us watching the action from the comforts of our home. Every last shot

CANNOT WAIT!!!!!! GO USA!!

Tree Down

We have a lot of trees in our neighborhood. Some that are either dead or dying. We have one dead in the backyard and Sharen has one in her front. I see them as firewood in the fall. I keep telling myself to call the tree surgeon and get an estimate to get it down before it falls down.

When we walk by them I get a feeling that one of these trees is going to fall. It is a feeling that haunts me when I mow the lawn and every time it storms and the winds blow. I have planned in my mind just what I am to do IF it happens to fall and I am around. ( I know just make the call and get it down)

Mike and I are sitting in our family room, I am reading the paper and he is reading his latest author. We hear a crack - me I jump up and go to stand in the doorway just in case it's our tree and it falls on the house. Because you know I have been thinking about just that for a few months now.

Another crack - I am freaking out and Mike he just sits there. He looks out the window and announces "It's not ours!"

It was a tree on the back property behind our house that fell and took out 2 more trees. No wind, no storm, as you can see a beautiful summer day.

I have had enough and called the tree guy for an estimate to get our tree down before it falls down..