NY, NY

Our buddy Rat (his link is over on the right) recently was able to go back home to NYC and has been posting pictures about it. This has brought back many memories of the few trips I made there. I loved visiting Manhattan, from the field trips we took in high school in to see the museums or Yankee games to the last time I was there with my kids on July 4th, 2001. Watching the fireworks while on a boat in the East River was pretty cool, even if it was cloudy and we didn't see the top of the very highest fireworks.
But I will never forget the cold cold day we went in Dec. IT must have been around 1988 or 1989. 19 degrees with a wind chill that was crazy. When the wind is channeled in between all those buildings, it can get very windy fast.
But the most vivid memory has to do with the trip up the Empire State Building that day. Our youngest daughter Nicki had decided she wasn't walking anywhere, anymore as we stood in the lobby waiting for the elevator to the observation deck. You stand "on line" in NYC, but on this frigid day there were not many wanting to get outside 1000 feet up. But Nicki was throwing her fit and wanted to be carried. Me, being the great Dad I am, informed her that she was 4 (5?) and needed to walk.
"We're going when the elevator doors open. You better come or you will be left behind."
Of course, Mom and older sister are very shocked by this plan that came from my mouth with no discussion at all.
The doors opened and we got on, except for Nicki.
I can't say if I was prepared to leave her behind or not. And I can't say exactly how it happened; I don't know if Mom grabbed her or Nicki figured it out and got with the program. I just know that before I made the move out of that elevator (and would have been too late anyway), she made it inside, the doors were closed and we were on our way up.
The next place we went after this was to Toys R Us, where we purchased a stroller.
I still say Nicki learned her lesson, though.
I carry these receipts in my wallet, behind some stuff in a compartment. Two adults, two children. This is the third wallet they have been in and I plan for them to always be with me. Shhhh. Don't tell anyone.

Tournament progress

Tonight, I was presented with the first copy of the scorecard we will be using for the TIBIMESSHGOTOAD. The front cover is pictured to the right.

Below is the inside of the card, with nearly accurate distances and some very clever names given to the holes, in the best Scottish tradition.

TIBIMESSHGOTOAD

The Inaugural Bill Innes Memorial Sorta Scottish Heritage Golf Tournament and Dinner is a silly event I dreamed up about a year ago. There is a group of volunteers that meet on Friday evenings (or early Saturday mornings in the dead of summer) at our church to mow the grass. The facility has quite a bit of lawn space, so it takes many man hours to get this all done. It is far to big of a job for one person to handle by themselves and the ground is not level enough for a riding mower to do an attractive job. There is something about a freshly mowed lawn however, that is beautiful.
Late last summer I had the idea that we should mow the lawns into a golf course. Not a huge course, but more like the kind you may have made for yourself or your child in your own yard. Pee-Gee balls (the plastic practice balls) would make a perfect ball to fit in the confined space. And it would be for fun anyway.
So this idea fermented for about a year until I was suddenly inspired by the prospect making an event that would have wide appeal to the entire spectrum of the church's congregation. Hmmm. What do we Presbyterians excel at? What are we known for?

FOOD! (that's how the dinner part come into being)

Bill Innes was a former member of Covenant Presbyterian Church who was adored by so many. He was known for his kind heart, the sparkle in his eye and how much he loved a good laugh. He wasn't afraid to laugh at himself, either. One day I realized that if Bill's name was attached to the event, more people would pay attention. By the way, Bill was born in Scotland. Scottish heritage is another important thing to many Presbyterians. So I added "Sorta Scottish Heritage" to the event name, because it is golf. Sorta.

This weekend I spent a few hours mowing 18 "holes" into the playground and back yards f the grounds. Jennifer Tiemann was a huge help on this as well. Church leadership approved the event and now it is time for game on.

People are lined up for the dinner preparations. Games of skill and chance will be taking place elsewhere on the grounds for those who don't want to golf, and I am hoping to erect some actuall bleachers for the event as well.

I have more work to do on this, so I have to run. The bleachers comment made me realize I need to email the mayor of Carrollton (who knew Bill) and ask if the Parks and Rec Dept has any they can lend....

More later. I promise.