For several reasons and excuses, I have failed to blog in a couple of weeks. Kitchen duty, vacation, and internet connections have hampered my ability to type about nothing.
So here's what you need to know about the northeastern NC, the Eastern 4-H Center, and the Fall Flight of waterfowl.
Our little corner of the state is trying to shake the grip of summer - it's tough when the humidity and the temps mirror each other at 80. Personally, I believe there is a time and a place for everything. These temperatures belong here from June to August. Rapid and confusing weather changes also confuse the body and a lot of people get a little sick. I am getting a small head cold. We also stand to get a little more rain. Where was this stuff when we needed it in the summer? There's nothing worse than pulling out the lawnmower one more time.
The Eastern 4-H Center is on the backside of 8 consecutive busy weekends! It's actually about 35, but I don't count the summer and since the summer doesn't count, the spring's consecutive weeks can't count, but obviously we have just been plain busy, especially on the weekends. I was away this weekend - I went to see Auburn play LSU in football. More on that later. Lee was left to attend to the Wedding rehearsal and reception over the weekend. Nothing says pressure quite like 250 hungry people. Apparently it was one of the finest matrimonious meetings in epochs!
This upcoming weekend implies that if you are a member of the community and you enjoy fun days then you should bring you and yours to the Eastern 4-H Center for Community Fun Day. Here's the thing - you do not have to be from our community. You can come from any community in the galaxy. There will be camp activities, a blodd drive, and a weenie roast. Nope, we are not roasting Lee. But everything is free (for you the visitor) and fun (for you and us). I have a collection of summer staff returning to facilitate the fun. Some of our full time staff will be here, too. The fun kicks off at 9:00 (it used to be 10:00, but 9:00 this year) and ceases at 3:00.
The annual fall migration of waterfowl is officially underway. The Great Lakes Cyclone that swept, then mopped the midwest left blizzard conditions in the upper midwest. Freezing temperatures will freeze up many small lakes, ponds, and rivers overnight! This will create a unique situation many call the grand passage. This is when virtually all ducks, geese, coots, swans, and shorebirds migrate at once. I have never seen this, but I'll be on the lookout. Many birds had already moved down here for the winter - evidence such as the 2000-3000 pintails and wigeons I saw at Pea Island a week ago strengthens that case. I got the banding information back from a wood duck I harvested earlier in the season - it was banded in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania - yep, Amish Country. This duck was obviously a migrant and probably moved into North Carolina in mid-September. Alas, it's time to dust of the decoys, check the boat for safety equipment, and secure the honey hole. The first split of the "late" waterfowl season is November 13.
On to Auburn. Three weeks ago, all of the pundits said that Auburn would not make it throug the three game stretch of Arkansas, Kentucky, and LSU. If they did, they would deserve, and thus, receive respect. Well pundits, it happened. The BCS computers have Auburn ranked number 1. Computers have always outsmarted humans. Pundits are barely human. One of the most detestable things about college football (other than the lack of a playoff) if the influence many of these talking head "experts" have on poll voters.
All of a sudden, they have deemed Auburn an "incomplete" team, referring to the apparent lack of defense. I don't know much about football, but I know an offenses job is to score more points than the other team's offense. A defenses job is to restrict the other team from scoring more points than that of their own team's offense. Auburn has scored more points than every team it has played. Using logic, one can determine that Auburn's offense and defense have both been successful...more successful than every team in the toughest conference in the country. Auburn's success seems to peak only when the conference is "down". This makes little sense to me. If traditional powers like Alabama are undefeated, the natural order of things must be correct. Also, pundits on television feel that college football is destined for a Boise State v. Alabama championship game. When Auburn beats Alabama, will Auburn finally be called a "complete" team, or will they determine that Alabama was "down" this year. The point being if pundits believe Alabama and Boise State are the best two teams in the country, please rank them that way now. That way, when Auburn beats Alabama, we can "earn" our top ranking.
It's also interesting that each Friday all of the "experts" predict an Auburn loss. After an Auburn win, all of the pundits are pleased to report that Auburn's latest victim was "overrated". Pundits, you are overrated. War Eagle! Cam for Heisman!
Enjoy the day...
October 27, 2010
October 13, 2010
Golf Pro Lee Scripture
It's tough to blog from behind a stove. That was my excuse yesterday. Monday, my computer had issues with the web...sorry!
Last weekend, we hosted a wedding. And Reception! Receptions are much better than weddings. This is where one can gorge themselves on tiny bits of food, rather than large restaurant style meals and home cooking. The tiny bits of food can be stacked and ordered into a belly much easier, and sometimes at a faster rate. And who dislikes punch? Nobody.
Lee and I played in the Tyrrell County Chamber of Commerce Golf tournament on Friday. I have decided to quit the game for good. But not for the many reasons that many people quit such as injuries and ineptitude. I am healthy and possess enough skill to be a viable partner on any golf course. As my luck would have it, I played pretty good golf. Nice long drives, well-shaped approaches, tack-driving wedges, and better then (my) average putting, Lee still found away to better me. Lee is like the Les Miles of the Golf World. He either knows something we all don't, or is just plain lucky...but certainly not good - and he'll admit it. His swing isn't bad, but his aim at both the ball and with the ball leave something to be desired. On numerous occasions Iwatched my fearless leader clean the dirt clods form his club heads, traipse through jungles, and whiff - if not double whiff - on recurring golf shots. And while starting golf late in life is tough, playing with Lee is even tougher, at least from a competitive standpoint. Conversely, there is no one (other than Johnny Spencer) who can keep you more "loose" on the links. It's always fun to watch him play - he can luck up and make incredible golf shots (as is the case with this blog entry), but he also never gets mad at golf. I stay mad at golf. I know how to make shots, but the 90% of the game that is played between the ears impedes my abilities to often.
Lee's commentary after hitting what I call "German Shots" can be hysterical. His reactions, such as peering into the distance, well beyond his 30 foot tee shot, is down right comical. These poor shots are not fromlack of skill, only practice. And he'll get there - he let some fly, too. But hearing about his failures is much better, right?
However, this tournament also had other games such as "Closest to the Pin" and "Longest Drive". The "Longest Drive" game is played, generally on the longest hole of the course. the person who hits the longest drive, places a sign there to signify the accomplishment. The winner gets a nice prize. The "Closest to the Pin" game is played on par 3's and requires that the winner's shot be closest to the pin while still being on the putting surface...
Now that the semantics are out of the way, here we go. The 7th Hole at the Edenton Chowan Country Club is a 150 par 3 - the site of "Closest to the Pin" fot his year's tournament. I played a nice 8 iron, but put too much "Anglish" on it only to have a nice shot roll back of the front of the green. The rest of the group played their tee shots and then it happened. Lee, addressed the ball (which is comical in itself) and wielding a DRIVER, laces a golfball as straight as an interstate. The 150 yards were covered in short order and the ball came to a stop a 152 yards, not an inch or degree of the straight line between he and the flagstick. Lo and behold, as we approach the green, the "Closest to the Pin" stake was almost identical in accuracy to Lee's. After measuring, it was determined that Lee was in fact the closest to the pin out of the 100 or so people that played the hole prior to us...and with only one team left to play the hole, it looked as if Lee would wear the crown.
At the cookout following the tournament, it was discovered that no one played a shot closer than Lee. A look at the records of all golf might also state that no person has ever one "closest to the pin" while utiliaing a driver. But he's that lucky. I have never had a hole-in-one. I have only holed out one shot from outside of a hundred yards. I have lots of flagsticks from between 50-75 yards, but the Closeset to the Pin when it counts avoids and evades me.
Enjoy the day...
Last weekend, we hosted a wedding. And Reception! Receptions are much better than weddings. This is where one can gorge themselves on tiny bits of food, rather than large restaurant style meals and home cooking. The tiny bits of food can be stacked and ordered into a belly much easier, and sometimes at a faster rate. And who dislikes punch? Nobody.
Lee and I played in the Tyrrell County Chamber of Commerce Golf tournament on Friday. I have decided to quit the game for good. But not for the many reasons that many people quit such as injuries and ineptitude. I am healthy and possess enough skill to be a viable partner on any golf course. As my luck would have it, I played pretty good golf. Nice long drives, well-shaped approaches, tack-driving wedges, and better then (my) average putting, Lee still found away to better me. Lee is like the Les Miles of the Golf World. He either knows something we all don't, or is just plain lucky...but certainly not good - and he'll admit it. His swing isn't bad, but his aim at both the ball and with the ball leave something to be desired. On numerous occasions Iwatched my fearless leader clean the dirt clods form his club heads, traipse through jungles, and whiff - if not double whiff - on recurring golf shots. And while starting golf late in life is tough, playing with Lee is even tougher, at least from a competitive standpoint. Conversely, there is no one (other than Johnny Spencer) who can keep you more "loose" on the links. It's always fun to watch him play - he can luck up and make incredible golf shots (as is the case with this blog entry), but he also never gets mad at golf. I stay mad at golf. I know how to make shots, but the 90% of the game that is played between the ears impedes my abilities to often.
Lee's commentary after hitting what I call "German Shots" can be hysterical. His reactions, such as peering into the distance, well beyond his 30 foot tee shot, is down right comical. These poor shots are not fromlack of skill, only practice. And he'll get there - he let some fly, too. But hearing about his failures is much better, right?
However, this tournament also had other games such as "Closest to the Pin" and "Longest Drive". The "Longest Drive" game is played, generally on the longest hole of the course. the person who hits the longest drive, places a sign there to signify the accomplishment. The winner gets a nice prize. The "Closest to the Pin" game is played on par 3's and requires that the winner's shot be closest to the pin while still being on the putting surface...
Now that the semantics are out of the way, here we go. The 7th Hole at the Edenton Chowan Country Club is a 150 par 3 - the site of "Closest to the Pin" fot his year's tournament. I played a nice 8 iron, but put too much "Anglish" on it only to have a nice shot roll back of the front of the green. The rest of the group played their tee shots and then it happened. Lee, addressed the ball (which is comical in itself) and wielding a DRIVER, laces a golfball as straight as an interstate. The 150 yards were covered in short order and the ball came to a stop a 152 yards, not an inch or degree of the straight line between he and the flagstick. Lo and behold, as we approach the green, the "Closest to the Pin" stake was almost identical in accuracy to Lee's. After measuring, it was determined that Lee was in fact the closest to the pin out of the 100 or so people that played the hole prior to us...and with only one team left to play the hole, it looked as if Lee would wear the crown.
At the cookout following the tournament, it was discovered that no one played a shot closer than Lee. A look at the records of all golf might also state that no person has ever one "closest to the pin" while utiliaing a driver. But he's that lucky. I have never had a hole-in-one. I have only holed out one shot from outside of a hundred yards. I have lots of flagsticks from between 50-75 yards, but the Closeset to the Pin when it counts avoids and evades me.
Enjoy the day...
October 7, 2010
Duck season, wedding season
This weekend the 4-H Center is hosting another wedding. We must be good at those. It might just be the waterfront location, but there are rumors that our food and service is as good as anywhere...just saying.
Duck season opened yesterday, October 6...me and Casper took some time and hunted at the Futch Tract outside of Columbia. This place is typically a haven for the "big" ducks that arrive in December, but it can hold spectacular amounts of locally hatched wood ducks. Wood ducks were at one time a pretty threatened species - with all of the logging an dpollution in the 60's and 70's. Nevertheless they are considered recovered and a three bird limit is one of the best ever. Nevertheless, I didn't take my limit, nor did Casper but we killed a pair of full plumage woodies. Mine sported a federal band - it's my second banded bird and it's always a nice treat to see a little sparkle on the leg when you recover a duck.
Cooling temperatures are finally starting to cool the water, which will go a long way to getting rid of the duck weed and alligator weed that is choking off our local waterways. The tropical storm of last week brought tooooo much rain and turned Columbia and Creswell into toxic and noxious swimming pools. FEMA personnel has been in the area to assess the damage. Lee, our fearless leader hates that his yard has been flooded, but has thoroughly enjoyed the accessories of a flood. Extra flashlights, knives, axes, and chest waders were donned by Lee and since there was a flood, his wife allowed him to wear the items in public. Yesterday, Casper and I had to help Lee load a lawnmower on a trailer. Pooshing a lawnmower through the mud may sound like fun, and it IS. Sike.
Next week, the Center will cleanup from the wedding and host several groups - Emmaus and the Quilters.
NC State lost to Virginia Tech last weekend. Obviously this old news. Carolina walloped ECU. Everybody has a chance at redemption this weekend and it should be sought. Auburn takes on Kentucky in the BLuegrass. I had expected to go, but I'll be splitting time between the kayak demos at the Scuppernong River Festival and the Wedding....
Enjoy the day...
Duck season opened yesterday, October 6...me and Casper took some time and hunted at the Futch Tract outside of Columbia. This place is typically a haven for the "big" ducks that arrive in December, but it can hold spectacular amounts of locally hatched wood ducks. Wood ducks were at one time a pretty threatened species - with all of the logging an dpollution in the 60's and 70's. Nevertheless they are considered recovered and a three bird limit is one of the best ever. Nevertheless, I didn't take my limit, nor did Casper but we killed a pair of full plumage woodies. Mine sported a federal band - it's my second banded bird and it's always a nice treat to see a little sparkle on the leg when you recover a duck.
Cooling temperatures are finally starting to cool the water, which will go a long way to getting rid of the duck weed and alligator weed that is choking off our local waterways. The tropical storm of last week brought tooooo much rain and turned Columbia and Creswell into toxic and noxious swimming pools. FEMA personnel has been in the area to assess the damage. Lee, our fearless leader hates that his yard has been flooded, but has thoroughly enjoyed the accessories of a flood. Extra flashlights, knives, axes, and chest waders were donned by Lee and since there was a flood, his wife allowed him to wear the items in public. Yesterday, Casper and I had to help Lee load a lawnmower on a trailer. Pooshing a lawnmower through the mud may sound like fun, and it IS. Sike.
Next week, the Center will cleanup from the wedding and host several groups - Emmaus and the Quilters.
NC State lost to Virginia Tech last weekend. Obviously this old news. Carolina walloped ECU. Everybody has a chance at redemption this weekend and it should be sought. Auburn takes on Kentucky in the BLuegrass. I had expected to go, but I'll be splitting time between the kayak demos at the Scuppernong River Festival and the Wedding....
Enjoy the day...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)