Altercation on the Links

Well, it finally happened. I could take no more of my dad's constant "helpful advice" on the course and I blew up. It didn't take long either, just 6 holes into our 36 hole marathon Friday. As some of you know, having played with him before, he always is telling me something that I'm doing wrong. Top one... "keep your head down"... hit it right... "your feet weren't lined up"... on and on this goes. For the most part I've just quietly told him to stick it and I don't want his advice...

But Friday, it finally happened. 5th hole is a par 3 that I missed the green to the right and down a hill. I chipped up and ran up the hill to see where it was going only to see him tapping my ball on the green with his putter. I was like "what are you doing?" to which he replied "helping you, just stopping the ball, it was rolling off". I was seriously confused as to why he would do something like that. I just said "don't do that, just let me play the game" and moved my ball to the rough and played out the hole.

With that still in my mind, trying to figure out what would make a person do something like that, we moved on to the 6th tee box. I'm lined up for my tee shot, which takes me a good 20-30 seconds to get just that right feeling and I initiate my backswing and I hear this "WAIT!". I abort and spin around on him like he'd just murdered my dog and let fly with a "WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT FOR!?!?" and he says "your feet were lined up to the right". Ok, that was all I could take. I let loose with about 700 profanities that I'm sure could not only be heard at the clubhouse but also in the cars on the freeway a quarter mile away. I don't even remember what all I said but I do know he had a strange look in his eyes like this might be the end.

I turned around, and quickly blasted my drive down the middle. He hits and we get back in the cart and I start in again with the "why in the hell would you do that?" and "just play the f'ing game and try to enjoy it." He finally tries to calm me down and says "ok, let's just drop it, I won't say any more". And he didn't. Finished the 18 peacefully and had a nice lunch. I still sucked and shot a 101.

We went back out 90 minutes later for our next 18 and my next door neighbor joined us. It was peaceful despite my poor play but dad couldn't make it past the 9th (his arthritis was bothering him) so we played the last 9 without him. I sucked again and shot another 101. Pretty pathetic. I keep telling myself it's all good since I was just padding my handicap for the club championship in a couple weeks.

Ah, parents...

Saturday and Sunday I spent more time trying to finish the basement ceiling but ran out of tiles. Need to go back tonight and get another box. We also discussed flooring possibilities. I think we're going to tear all the remaining carpet out of the house and put down hardwood laminate flooring throughout the whole place, including the basement. Not really looking forward to doing all that. I guess I'll try to do the basement first so I can be done down there then start on the rest of the house. Trouble is going to be finding a match to the Pergo I put in the living room. Home Depot doesn't carry it any more. Hope I can order it online or something.

Took mom to American Players Theater (outdoor amphitheater) to see a Shakespeare play called "Measure for Measure". First bad show I've seen there. The story sucked and the actors actually didn't seem to into it either, quite a few line flubs which I'd never seen there before. They lost me a half hour into a 3 hour performance. That makes for a long night.