PGA Colonial Golf

Jason Dufner hits on the eighth fairway

  When I was a kid, I thought that golfers were either really stodgy business men who never dressed down  or really goofy clowns. The stodgy ones wore the slacks and collared shirts in some color that they would not wear to work. The clowns got to wear those bloomed out knickers and funky hats, crazy plaids and seemed to have all the fun. Over the years I get the impression that the PGA game has gotten a bit more conservative, example of Jason Dufner who leads the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial. The other extreme is this group of young players that are looking for the brightest, wildest colors. It is like they are trying to stand out in a crowd like the beer guys at a ball game. In a gallery of the generic folks, Rickie Fowler in Friday's outfit sure fits the later billing.

Rickie Fowler retrieves his ball on the eighth

Track Day

Justin Moore holds a tight line.

  Spent the morning watching a motorcycle track day session at the Motorsports Ranch in Cresson, Texas.  Everything from full out racers to a couple of guys on day touring BMW's taking laps of the 1.7 mile long upper course of the club facility. If it were not for the inevitable falling down part, I would love to join them and learn to ride just a little faster. Really makes you respect the skills of the guys like Casey Stoner and Valentino Rossi on the Moto GP bikes. Oh how much there is to learn. It was fun watching  kite boarding buddy Justin Moore in a different environment with his Suzuki GSX-R on the track.

Samsung 500

Back to Texas Motor Speedway for the Samsung 500. Gray and cloudy with a massive breeze blowing, but it did not stop all the NASCAR drivers from playing a nose to tail chase around the mile and a half oval. Greg Biffle and his team owner Jack Roush were in Victory Lane at the end of it all. Great that the threatening weather waited till the next morning to unleash its fury.

Skiing Royalty

A shot of Bode Miller from the World Cup slalom race that was held in Beaver Creek in 2011 in replacement of the European races that were cancelled due to lack of snow. I was shooting for Rick Wilkings of Rueters, one of the finest ski racing guys I have met, comes from living in Colorado I presume.
I wonder if it will be the last time I see the most decorated american ski racers of all times in action.

Teamwork

Anyone that follows the wild and wooly adventures of my dog Kimo probably thinks he loves going out doors and running up and down trails. Getting rolled in the mud or snow while seeing the better part of his half of the world excites him like a glimpse of a morsel of steak. The big draw back, especially from his perspective apparently is having to do it with me. He usually covers it up pretty well, a quick glance away. A snort under his breath and a shrug of his shoulders as he nonchalantly marches along. Every now and then he lets it slip though, these looks of "what the hell do you mean I have to climb up there with you?" I pointed out to him where I wanted to skin up on pyramid peak and this is the look he gives me. Guess he told me since shortly there after he turns and runs back to the car in the parking lot to wait for my return. So much for having a climbing buddy.

River Surfing

It is never a good thing when an entire squad from the fire department and three police officers are starring down at you asking if you are really trying to kill yourself. Thanks to a concerned citizen with his handy cell phone they were warned that some guy was jumping into a rain swollen Trinity River in Ft. Worth with a surfboard. Of course they made the assumption that I was trying to commit suicide.
Those folks that know me well have always thought that I was a little off my rocker, and thanks to my former colleague and friend Paul Moseley at the Star-Telegram they have proof. A little later Larry Rodriguez from the local Fox 4 television news crew shows up to verify it.
I have actually been tossed around way worse while surfing in the ocean, and after the wave had shrunk a little I went out in the kayak to do the typical thing on the waves that were created by the good folks at Streams and Valleys for whitewater kayakers. As the police officer told me after checking with his Sargent if I was actually breaking any laws, "don't think they had surfing in mind when they built those things"

Going Home

It happens every spring. The sounds of feathers whistling in flight as huge flocks of birds pass overhead in the most perfect formations of flying "V"s. Ducks, geese, cranes even the lowly sparrows fly in formation as they travel from one location to another. Some in multi continental migrations and others just flying home for the night to roost with friends like this flock of cormorants returning to their new home along the banks of the Trinity River in Fort Worth.

Baba baby

Just had to post this one because I love saying the name of the dish.
From Terra restaurant, the mediterranean place on Crockett street, a dish of Baba ganoush.
Just kind of rolls off the tongue, and pretty good eating as well. How could you not order that just to say it when the wait staff shows up, just makes me smile.

Bucking Bock

Aahhh, the holidays are over and the weather in the metroplex is getting cold so it must be Stock Show time. Got me inspired to do something with a bottle of Bucking Bock Beer from the local Rahr Brewery. Figure every bronc rider I have ever met drinks beer so a shot of one with a bock in his hand just seemed appropriate. Guess that means I can drink it too.

Dog Day Monday

Every now and then you wake up, and all you want to do is roll over and not move another inch. Today is one of those days after trying to race a mountain bike for 50 miles the body just does not want to kick into gear. To top it off it is kind of cold outside and raining which makes it even harder to move. I feel like rolling over and and playing dead just like Emma here from Fort Worth Camera. This is definitely what I call a dog day.

Merry Christmas

I just want to wish everyone a wonderful Holiday from Eldora, Colorado.

Snow Bombing

I am not sure what the really name for it is, but Kimo and I call it snow bombing. It comes out of nowhere, scares him to death and gives you an instant brain freeze. It turns out to be another one of those hidden winter time dangers after a really heavy snow fall. You walk along a path and as the sun warms the pine boughs, they drop their loads of snow on unsuspecting victims. After hearing a few go off and having some drop on his head, Kimo decided he did not want to venture away from the road where he could see the clearing.

New Snow

Well, the front range of Colorado got what they call dumped on, with as much as two feet of fresh snow yesterday. I could not get the old Honda out of the Goulet driveway so I had to borrow their Subaru to try and get some fresh tracks. Luckily the main roads were plowed so I could still get to the slopes. Too bad all that snow just came to mess up traffic since up in the mountains where the ski areas are there was only four or five inches. Still a blast to break in the new skis.

Making Friends

I am not sure Kimo knew what to expect when I told him he was gonna make some new friends this week. He walked in the door of my friend in Boulders home and saw Sid with his back arched and hissing. Later he met little sister Sadie, who was really curious about the slightly larger "kitty", it being the same color and all. Kimo is still not sure what to do since the cats are used to an older dog that slept with them so they are trying to rub and cuddle with him. It makes him really nervous but he loves to play chase when they run from one room to another.

Day in the Woods

Got a tip from a local in Nederland, Colorado yesterday. Seems there is a hut at the top of a hike that heads up the backside of the Eldora Ski area. Since the snow in the area is a little light and I did not want to fight the crowds before the holidays, it made a perfect adventure for the day. It is part of the Eldora Nordic Center trail system and is less than 5 miles in the trees above the resorts eastern flank. Threw on the skins, left the dog since he is not allowed on the trail and hoofed it up to a gorgeous overlook of the Colorado Front Range north into Rocky Mountain National Park. The cabin sleeps 14 in true bunkhouse fashion, but since I was only out for the day it was perfect for my lunch break. The trail is very well marked, just follow the snowshoe orange blazes till you get to the sign. A little more snow in the trees and the decent could be perfect.

Sled Dog Training

Took Kimo the wonder dog out to get in shape for his tryout as a led sled dog today. He had to break a little trail of his own since he can not always follow me. The snow around Nederland, Colorado was a little deeper that lower on the front range. He finished the day with a white beard of his own to match mine.

A Walk in the Woods

I took a nice, long walk along a frozen creek today above Boulder, Colorado with my dog. Gorgeous views and very relaxing getting away from the hustle and bustle, except for the look I kept getting from my Kimo. He would march ahead a little ways and look over his shoulder with one of those impatient little kid looks. As if he was saying "Come on you slowpoke old fool. Can't you keep up". All I could muster was a "Hey, the altitude is getting to me."

Woman Speedster

American skiing speed demon Lindsey Vonn does it again as the FIS Women got a chance to race on the Birds Of Prey race course in Beaver Creek . With the women usually racing in Val d'sere this week but there is no snow in Europe, the races got moved to Colorado and Lindsey got a chance to race on her home turf. Looks like the home course advantage helped as she won the Super-G race on Wednesday.

Best Thanksgiving Wishes

Watching the sun rise over a grove of pecan trees and beaming thru the early morning fog, just wanted to wish everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving Day. Take a moment to appreciate all the things that we have and the friends and family we hold dear.

A Foreign Celebrity

Just met one of those celebrity types that I am actually impressed with, Richard Hammond of the BBC's Top Gear television show was in the garage interviewing NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Jimmie Johnson. No idea when the piece will air but can not wait to see how gorgeous that crew of videographers will make NASCAR racing look especially with the color palate available.