Bits and Pieces for a Friday Morning

-Colt Nation, as well as a few other locales, has been blasted by Mother Nature this week.  Expect we'll see the end of this wintry weather directly and be hurled into an early and glorious Spring.  Right?

-In the February 8th issue of GolfWorld, Ron Whitten celebrates nine hole golf courses with his article entitled Small Wonders with a subtitle of - Nine-hole courses offer as much charm and challenge as 'regulation' 18s, and are usually more ecological and economical.  So, why do so few golfers play them?  Well, speak for yourself, Ron Whitten, cause around here, our Lakeview Golf Course is a favorite.  I do agree that they should be played more, especially since they are geared to a nice and tidy round that is done within an hour and a half or two, a timing that is perfect for early morning, noon time, or an after dinner walk.  And let's not forget a ten o'clock or even a two o'clock tee time.  Btw, he does mention several courses in the area - Signal Point Club in Niles, MI, Wyoming GC in Cincinnati, and Pottawatomie GC in St. Charles, IL; but only one here in Indiana - Hillcrest G&CC in Batesville, and that for the wrong reason - it made the list of courses that lost charm when expanded to 18.

-On the arrival of golfing weather:  Are you ready?  Have you stretched out and kept your body (and mind, for that matter) in some kind of shape for the coming rigors of your own personal golf world?  I, for one, have paid slightly more attention to my exercise routine.  Walking I do on a daily basis - at least two 20 minute jaunts on Diane's eliptical; and a little weight lifting, some fifty crunches, and every now and then some chaired push-ups.  But I need to do more stretching - the leg, back and shoulder muscles.  And then there are the swing mechanics - certainly they need a tune up.  Putting is not a problem cause I often will get up from the computer or the tv chair and roll ten, twenty or thirty putts of variable lengths.  Chipping and iron play, on the other hand, are saved for the outdoors.  But...  I did buy myself one of those Cleveland lob wedges, 60 degree and black, and I have tried to hit just little bitty chips here on the inside - using those yellow foam balls.  Guess what?  Absolutely miserable performance the first several times.  Yes, an occasional clean hit but that far too infrequently.  The body is not doing what my mind is telling it to do.  It's like learning how to walk all over again.  Very frustrating.  So, need to do much more with that area, something that will be easier once the weather turns just a little bit.  Note to myself: continue the putting, increase the stretching, do some of that little bitty chipping on a more regular basis, and, of course, keep sending those offerings to the golf goddesses to send some nice weather.

-Girls sectional basketball tonight - after two postponements due to weather.  Expect Vincennes Rivet and Barr-Reeve to end up in the finals on Monday night but watch out, both Loogootee and Shoals know how to win.  Expect Rivet to walk away with the trophy because of their superior depth and no doubt their passion to finish the job this year - no stumbling, something they did in the last minute of the State championship game last March.  I'll be there in Jack's arena, cheering on the whole bunch of them.

-initialisms:  You know, like 'btw' and 'wtf'.  Came across a new one (in a comment over at Birdman Photos) which I had to google to get the meaning of:  'ttfn'.  Know it?  Ta ta for now.  Wonder if I could fit that into my vocabulary every now and then?  ttfn?  guys?