As it's always been or a new way of life?

I live in a city of about 40,000 and it's not unusual to see people picking though trash looking for cans. Monday is trash collection day in my neighborhood so this is when you will see people walking up and down the street.

Usually it's two middle-aged men or an Asian couple who look like they're in the mid to late 40s.

This morning I saw this woman, whom I'd never seen before. She walked slowly up the street and spent quite a bit time at my neighbor's trash across the street.
Unfortunately for her she picked the wrong week to come to our street because next week is recycling pickup and there are much more cans and bottles to be had.

I couldn't help but watch her while standing in the shadows of my house. She worked slowly but methodically and what was odd was that suddenly I realized I was standing there hold my camera shooting a picture of her through the screen door. Honestly, I don't remember getting the camera, turning it on or even lining up the shot. It wasn't until I heard the first click of the camera that I realized what I was doing.

Standing there watching I wondered to myself about her circumstances ... the economy is still struggling, is she, too? Does she do this just to make a little extra money? Is it something she has to do to support herself ... her family?

I was struck with the urge to give her the $30 I have in my wallet and I'm not sure why I didn't ... I just didn't.

Watching her further I wondered how long she had been doing this. I would guess it's been some time because the wagon she was pulling just didn't look like something rigged together recently.

Not sure where I'm really going with this. I guess it's one thing to see people on a main city street picking through trash but it's another thing entirely to see it in your neighborhood.

Ted Kennedy

Regardless of your political affiliation, I think all of us are saddened by the passing of Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy, a larger-than-life figure in political and personal circles.

My personal memory of Senator Kennedy is a "brush with greatness" moment from the 1990s.

Kell and I were vacationing on Martha's Vineyard and having breakfast at the Black Dog restaurant in Vineyard Haven. We were sitting on the porch of the restaurant and I suddenly realized that the Senator and his wife, Vicki, were sitting two tables away from us. Admittedly, I tried to eavesdrop on their conversation while trying to contain my excitement at being seated so close to such a dynamic person as the Senator.

At one point, the two were reading the newspaper and Vicki asked the Senator in an exasperated tone, "Ted, what IS Jesse Helms' problem, anyway?!?"

The Senator looked over the top of his newspaper and, without missing a beat, said (and I'll never forget this as long as live), "Well, Dear, everyone is entitled to their opinions on things and Jesse certainly has his."

I think that speaks volumes not just about the type of politician Senator Kennedy was, but the type of person he was, too. He may not have always agreed with people (especially those on the other side of the isle), but he always respected their opinions. And for that, I think the Massachusetts and the country are that much better off. He will be greatly missed.

"Welcome to golf"

If anything typifies my experience with golf, it's my playing ability over the past few weeks ... well, my abilities with one certain club - the pitching wedge.

For the past month or so, I haven't been able to hit the PW at all. Used to be that my "go-to" clubs were my 4-iron, 9-iron and PW. But for some reason, the PW has absolutely eluded me recently, especially the last three weeks of the golf league I'm in.

Speaking of which, the league is over and Kell and I (Team 5) came in at 5-6-3 for the season. We're missed the playoffs, but it was a lot of fun playing every week.

Anyway, I lost all touch with the PW ... until yesterday. Kell and I shot 18 at the Woods (7 a.m. tee time ... amazing) and it was like night and day with the PW. I couldn't do anything wrong with it. Every shot had great loft, I was dropping the ball exactly (well, most of the time) where I wanted it and was swinging it consistently. I was even hitting out of very tall rough with it. Go figure.

Told a co-worker this morning about this anomaly and he smiled and said, "Welcome to golf!" Indeed.

Playing yesterday morning reminded me why I love this game so much. There is nothing like standing in the tee box at 7 a.m., sun has only be up for about an hour at the most, the air is still, fresh-cut grass and a faint dirt smell permeate the air and there's barely a sound save for a few birds. There was no one else on the course at the time, so it felt like Kell and I were the only two people in the world.

But even when there's others on the course, it's fun to hear people shouting in celebration on other holes when someone does something well.

Yesterday's pace was fantastic because we didn't have any other players pressing us. We shot our round in about 4 1/2 hours, which is pretty good.

So it's a bummer I won't be playing every week, but I've got a tournament or two and some golf dates lined up and Kell and I have already said we can't wait to golf in the Fall when it's cooler out.

So at least I have that going for me ... which is nice.

A win is a win

A weird night for the golf league last night.

First, I wasn't sure we were going to get nine holes in because there were nasty-looking thunderstorms predicted for our area right around the time were supposed to be going out (which seems to be the norm this summer because every Wednesday has had rain or the threat or rain, no exaggeration).

But, after a torrential downpour around 3 p.m., the skies cleared and it actually was a nice afternoon.

When we got the to the course, we found that the team we were playing couldn't make it, so we "played the card" instead, meaning that we still went out and played nine holes because the scores were still needed for the sake of our handicaps.

We played the back nine and on the 11th hole we were met by another two-some and decided to join together for a four-some. So that made for a good time ... both of the other guys were about our skill level although one of the guys, Jerry, was a bit better. He seemed to make better shots when he needed them.

As for me, I shot 63 for the round and as usual, I made some great shots and some not-so-great shots. Still, I was making consistent contact, but I still need to work on my aiming. Once again I would make what would've been a nice, straight shot but because my aiming was off, the ball would sail to the right or left of where I wanted it.

The only real mistake I made was on the 16th hole, (par 3, 129 yards). I teed off and landed in the rough just to the right of the green, but this rough is very steep and instead of taking a drop, I tried to hit out of it. If I had taken a drop, I would have been on in three; instead, I was on in five and ended up with a seven. I've talked before about taking chances but this was one of those times where I should have taken a drop, especially since the cup was on the side of the green near where my tee shot had landed.

Anyway, it was kind of nice to play and not have to think about scoring and points. I took last night's round as a practice of sorts.

So, what did I learn this week?

1. I need to remember that the last thing I need to think of before I start my swing (whether it's teeing off or on the fairway) is to keep my head down. I found last night that if I didn't do this, I topped the ball. Ye gods.
   
2. I've got to find a way to get more confidence and I think a good way to do that is to more often picture the shot I'm about to take. I think doing this will lead me to subconsciously do the things I need to do in my swing to make a better shot. Something has to change because if I can't change the issues with aiming, I'm in trouble.

What was most fun about last, though, was that Keith, Kell and our friend Johnny B met us as the clubhouse and we had dinner and drinks after. It was great sitting on the deck in the cooler weather (after a couple of weeks of heat and humidity) and relaxing. Good times.

Me ... sorta ... I guess

Well, according to this Political Spectrum Quiz ...

My Political Views
I am a center-left moderate social libertarian
Left: 1.41, Libertarian: 3.38

Political Spectrum Quiz


My Foreign Policy Views
Score: -3.51

Political Spectrum Quiz


My Culture War Stance
Score: -4.92

Political Spectrum Quiz