HappyUP!!! Day 1100

HappyUP!!! - birdie on 18

Why it happened - I hit a great drive, great 8 iron, and a great putt

Why it makes me happy - I had been playing pretty well all day....my partner was playing

even better. This put us up as a team....and me up individually. There is a habit that some

people have of "doubling down" on the last hole....I believe it is called the Aloha Press. One

of the individuals that did it to me today happens to be one of the best amateurs in all of Northern California. In other words, 9 times out of 10, he is going to beat me on the last hole. How good is he? Well, I hit two great shots to about 7-8 ft and had a hairy putt for birdie.....he then got up and put it to within 3-4 feet. I made my putt, as did he, and HE FINALLY HAD TO PAY ME FOR ONCE IN HIS LIFE!!!! He's a nice kid and a great golfer......but he's not my son. I get tired of supporting him.

HappyUP!!! - my partner today

Why it happened - maybe things are turned around

Why it makes me happy - my partner is a better golfer than I am. He's been struggling a bit. We don't always play team games at our course...mostly individual matches. Today, him and I played two different teams. It would have been a bad day to play poorly....a very bad day. He threw a little 34 down on the front 9....good financially for our team but, more importantly, it was good to see him shoot 2 under for 9 holes. He shot 72 for the day with a double bogey so I know he is feeling better....which makes for a HappyUP!!! for me. I like it when my friends feel better.

HappyUP!!! - glorious weather

Why it happened - it's weather...I got nothing over that

Why it makes me happy - it's January...while I didn't, I could have been wearing shorts! How much do I love where I live?

HappyUP!!! - IMng with my buds

Why it happened -nothing but good news

Why it makes me happy - I love my friends and good news

JollyJottings

Near ace

Par putt on 8

Up and down on 16

Cleaning up some untidiness on 17

My partner shooting 34 on the front 9

My partner making 4 birdies....including a big one on 15

Buying some lunch after the game

HappyUP!!! Day 1099

HappyUP!!! - stunning weather

Why it happened - it's weather

Why it makes me happy - golf in great temps.....driving with the top down on the way home from the course....heck, it was almost nice enough to mow my lawn....almost. Loved today

HappyUP!!! - golfing companions

Why it happened - a couple of treats

Why it makes me happy - we had the return of "the Laff".....played with the pro/owner of course....and had some GREAT matches

HappyUP!!! - misc communications with friends

Why it happened - my friends tracked me down

Why it makes me happy - had some miscommunications yesterday...glad there were no problems and things were cleared up today

HappyUP!!! - second best round of the year

Why it happened - I am swinging better

Why it makes me happy - 9 greens....30 putts...76.....on a 7000 yard wet course....very encouraging. Still had a few "loose" swings but, by and large, got myself out of some jams

JollyJottings

Stunning weather

Best round of year..and some time

6 iron on 5

Birdie putt on 6

Hybrid into 8

Wedge on 10

Bogey putt on 11

Drive/wedge into 13

Hybrid on 15

6 iron on 16

Chip on 17

Text from a buddy

E-mail from a friend

Playing with the pro

Return of the Laff

HappyUP!!! Day 1098

HappyUP!!! - lunch with a buddy

Why it happened - we set it up

Why it makes me happy - this is an old industry friend. My friend brought along their daughter who I hadn't seen in ages....wow...what a nice young lady she has become! It was absolutely awesome to spend time in their presence.

HappyUP!!! - booking it with my buddy

Why it happened - we had been e-mailing

Why it makes me happy - I'll spend some time Monday night with the guy that taught me how

to play guitar 30 years ago....we'll play some tunes....and go over a project...I'm stoked

HappyUP!!! - practicre session

Why it happened - I forced myself out there

Why it makes me happy - had a productive hour and a half working on the chipping and putting...I have a feeling the putter is going to be coming around very nicely. Couldn't believe how well I was stroking it.

JollyJottings

Chat with Jeffy

Chat with CG

Texting with a dear friend

Lunch with a friend and daughter

"CalPers is my new best friend"

HappyUP!!! Day 1097

HappyUP!!! - e-mail from musician friend

Why it happened - I e-mailed him a request

Why it makes me happy - he's stopping by next week to consult with me on a

possible project I want to do in-studio. Great guy.....WAY GREAT musician...

HappyUP!!!

HappyUP!!! - 27 holes in nice weather

Why it happened - we are grabbing it while we can

Why it makes me happy - outdoors.....good friends....decent golf for this time

of year.....I've got work to do but I am hitting a lot of quality shots. For January,

the game is coming around. We'll start grinding in February.

HappyUP!!! - great e-mails with a good friend

Why it happened - who knows what starts the ball rolling

Why it makes me happy - there were some hysterical parts for both of us

and other commentary that was nice. E-mail doesn't always lay "as flat" as one

would think that medium does. Very enriching.

HappyUP!!! - par on 18

Why it happened - I am a grinder

Why it makes me happy - I hit a crappy drive into the bunker.....and a crappy 5 iron out

of the bunker....my god, everything was on the line....I had a challenging pitch shot which I

hit well....to about 6 feet....and dumped the putt. My main opponent was staring at a 4 foot birdie putt to reclaim EVERYTHING he had lost to that point. Yes, he made it....but not before I "made him make it" with my grinding it out. HappyUP!!!

HappyUP!!! - grabbing some Chinese with a buddy

Why it happened - my buddy was hungry

Why it makes me happy - who wants to eat alone?

JollyJottings

E-mail from musician friend

Another day of golf

An extremely nice e-mail exchange with my buddy

A funny YouTube Video...and e-mail photo/joke

Birdie on the first hole today

Birdie on 12

Great 5 iron and par on 26

Getting some dough back

Chinese Food

Getting up and down for par on 18

HappyUP!!! Day 1096

HappyUP!!! - texting with my buddy

Why it happened - it probably shouldn't have

Why it makes me happy - I love my great friends....this one is a great one. Sometimes, friendships get strained for various reasons. Air cleared? No....but it isn't smog either. We'll get the "open loop" fixed.

HappyUP!!! - sunshine!

Why it happened - it had to at some point...and we played 27 to find it

Why it makes me happy - it just felt good to "strip down" a bit on the golf course

and get the fleece vest off. I think 10 days of being "shut in" might have made me a little grumpy as well.

HappyUP!!! - a note from my "adopted mom"

Why it happened - she's SWEET

Why it makes me happy - a thought always goes a long way...but I also got a recipe that

I had been looking for.

HappyUP!!! - second shot on the 27th hole

Why it happened - who knows....maybe I have a little skill?

Why it makes me happy - I was sitting in the fairway bunker....172 yds out....over water. My opponent was in the fairway at about 157. He was a few wagers ahead...and it looked like he was REALLY going to take me to the cleaners. I picked that 6 iron clean, sent it skyward, it drew, went right at the hole and settled in about 3 feet from the pin.......and more than a few dollars were saved! Nice way to end!!!

HappyUP!!! - making about a 10 footer on 18

Why it happened - I stroked it

Why it makes me happy - it always comes down to the last hole.....that little putt was a wallet helper...for sure. Nothing like coming through under the gun.

HappyUP!!! - 27 holes with my buds

Why it happened - we all had the itch

Why it makes me happy - my golf buddies are great guys......can a guy say what I am about to say......I missed them!

JollyJottings

Recipe from my "adopted mom"

6 iron from 172 out of the bunker and over the water on 27th hole

A couple of rifled 5 irons

Great wedge into hole 21

Two putting 18

Sunshine

27 holes with my friends

Walking 18 holes

QuoteUP!!! 21 Confuscious

"If you make a mistake and don't correct your mistake, you just made your second mistake"

-Confuscious

WOW! How long have I packed this gem along on the trip? - a long time. I think I picked this pearl up almost 30 years ago

This one comes in handy everywhere - but it really came in handy back in my days of lending.

When you are doing someone's loan (or anything, I suppose) - it is very easy for a mistake to be made. Often, to correct the mistake, meant going back to the customer to get more information which clearly put on display that you screwed up. The prospect of putting that out there could be scary.....embarrassing.....downright PAINFUL

Which is why many of my peers said - "eh...we'll just let it slide," and then it would blow up in their face later on.

Not me - yes, did I end up fixing some mistakes that may have worked themselves out? I am sure I did. The problem is that you just don't KNOW which mistakes will boomerang back at you.

I was very good at what I did - and, later in my career, didn't make that many errors.

A skill that I did pick up - was recognizing my mistakes, owning them, and fixing them fast.

Take the quote above - and stick it in your back pocket. You WILL find it useful.

HappyUP!!! Day 1095

HappyUP!!! - my Toastmasters meeting

Why it happened - it's Tuesday

Why it makes me happy - we had two AWESOME speeches today. I love it when the speakers get out of comfort and go to the next level

HappyUP!!! - new member

Why it happened - he visited

Why it makes me happy - Morgan is a cool dude...he knows he needs the help...he visited today...and recognized that this is where he needs to be

HappyUP!!! - scoring decent Bon Jovi tickets

Why it happened - I went on line

Why it makes me happy - it will be really cool to go to this show.....really cool

HappyUP!!! - laying down a scratch track

Why it happened - I set myself up to record

Why it makes me happy - I have had this one cookin for awhile. I think the tune and idea is pretty damn cool. I don't like the scratch...but it is a scratch....I can't wait to hear from friends to see if "the story" gets conveyed...it's all about the story.]

JollyJottings

Great sleep

Wonderful speeches

A new member

Layind down a solid scratch track

BBQ pork chops

Music

HappyUP!!! Day 1094

HappyUP!!! - brekko

Why it happened - I was hungry

Why it makes me happy - I hadn't had an omelette out and about in forever. I got some critical reading done....tough reading but very soul satisfying. Just a pleasant morning out watching the raindrops.

HappyUP!!! - getting some stuff moved around

Why it happened - you get sick and tired of being sick and tired

Why it makes me happy - I created some room to record....of course, now that I have done it, it will probably stop raining and I will be back on the golf course! Still, no issues....didn't get anything good laid down today but made a couple of legitimate passes.

HappyUP!!! - stock market

Why it happened - who knows

Why it makes me happy - last week was a little worrisome....today was not a huge win but the tide got stemmed a bit.

HappyUP!!! - great e-mail exchanges

Why it happened - I have some good friends in town and out

Why it makes me happy - always cool to know what other people have going on. I couldn't believe what a buddy down Fresno way is up to....what a brutal schedule.....ALMOST makes me feel guilty!

JollyJottings

Brekko

Chatting with a buddy

Great reading on a rainy day

Stock market

HappyUP!!! Day 1093

HappyUP!!! - the double stack

Why it happened - two championship football games...lots of chair time

Why it makes me happy - though my two children are great friends, they don't like to share chair time. Here we are, enjoying today's games....especially the Saints/Vikings deal...what a game!

HappyUP!!! - great sleep

Why it happened - who knows

Why it makes me happy - I logged darn near 9 hours last night...a near record for me even though it was interrupted. Amazing.

HappyUP!!! - good contact with a buddy

Why it happened - we texted and talked

Why it makes me happy - we had some small loops...tiny loops...loops that shouldn't even be there. They are smoothed out and we'll get together this week to put the road in the right direction...no doubt!

HappyUP!!! - throwing down on a friend

Why it happened - sometimes you have to lay it down

Why it makes me happy - no friendship will be just lost.....just clarified...perfectly!

JollyJottings

Great sleep

Double stack

Great football

Invite to the donk

Getting back in touch with a friend

HappyUP!!! Day 1092

HappyUP!!! - my buddy

Why it happened - we were on Facebook

Why it makes me happy - my bud was saying he was going to see a guy from Santa Cruz guitars. I said that I owned one...gave him the serial number....and the guy that made it. Turns out, the guy that made it was the guy he was going to see. So, pictured here, is the luthier who ground out my Santa Cruz guitar. How cool is that? Not only that but the luthier is going to look up the serial number and get info to my buddy to pass on to me. Again....how cool is that?

HappyUP!!! - coffee with my buddy

Why it happened - I didn't play golf

Why it makes me happy - what's better than a lazy Saturday morning at Starbucks hanging with your buddy....solving the world's problems....and sharing vital information. Good times.

HappyUP!!! - excellent guitar time

Why it happened - it was a lazy Saturday afternoon

Why it makes me happy - broke no new ground...what else is new...but did build up some "finger/callous" time. I had some pretty good rhythm's going....got to love that.

HappyUP!!! - got into the Olympic Club

Why it happened - I went to the website

Why it makes me happy - 28 years ago was the last time I qualified for the State Amateur....and I did it at the Ocean Course at Olympic Club. Now, I'll have to go against the kids...the bombers....and I have 3 months to get my game elevated. Why not?

JollyJottings

Brekko at the club

Coffee with family

More coffee with my buddy

Texting with some friends

Wailing out some guitar chops

Got into Olympic Club

GREAT evening

QuoteUP!!! 20 Albert Einstein

"Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted"

-Albert Einstein

This quote has been a favorite of mine - for a long time.....even before the small company I worked for merged into a bigger one........which then bought an equal of size........

......and I was now working for a monolith - that managed by the mantra, "If it can't be measured, it can't be managed."

No knocks on the monolith - but there is a huge component missed in the "measured/managed" motto.

In the end - it's the people that work for you that matter....and it's a distinct advantage a smaller business....a more democratice organization....will always have over the Corporate Behemoth.

Think of your own family - can you measure, "Love"? Yet, what is the bedrock to that "organization"?

Why is that? - because it is very important to the individual

In a large organization - not only is there no love, you can't even SAY the word.

I was surprised to get a look once - at an HR program that was being prototyped...."Employees: Love em or Lose em".

Did I say surprised? - how about astounded? The Monolith was actually going to roll something using the "L word" with their employees?........

........and the program was never rolled - Shocking....news at 11.

How about "the little things" - can you measure them?......perhaps....but, to do it, would require such quantification of minutae that people spend all their time COUNTING rather than DOING (a condition of much frustration to many managers today).

Measurements are important - but they will never be all important because you can never measure "that special something" that someone has.....or can do for you.....never.

HappyUP!!! Day 1091

HappyUP!!! - a great walk

Why it happened - no rain tonight

Why it makes me happy - everything smelled so fresh after so much rain. On more than one occasion, I think I smelled the aroma of fabric softener being dispensed from dryer vents. The air was so clean, it had nothing to compete with. It smelled so sweet.

HappyUP!!! - finding a spare D string

Why it happened - I snapped one last night

Why it makes me happy - while it would have been infinitely more fun to find a stray G string laying around, I actually needed a D string after busting one last night. I didn't have to cannibalize a new set of strings either

HappyUP!!! - great group set up for tomorrow

Why it happened - everyone wants to play

Why it makes me happy - I'll get to see the Laff for the first time in weeks.....and my other buddies for the first time in a week or so. Haven't touched a club for a week.

JollyJottings

Finding a spare D string

Welcoming home a friend

HappyUP!!! Day 1090

HappyUP!!! - pancakes

Why it happened - I had a breakfast appointment

Why it makes me happy - it had been a couple of weeks....I love my Pacific Street pancakes (short stack only) and a side of sausage

HappyUP!!! - time with my buddy

Why it happened - we went to breakfast

Why it makes me happy - love spending time with this dear friend. Just absolutely love it.

HappyUP!!! - e-mail from the Laff

Why it happened - he was thinking of me

Why it makes me happy - I miss the Laff.......but it does appear that we will get to the golf course very soon for some hijinx.

HappyUP!!! - hooking up with an old work friend

Why it happened - I am working on a project for him

Why it makes me happy - when I can do some recruiting for a buddy and help them along, it always makes me happy. My buddy has a good thing going on...and, god only knows, people in the industry need alternatives where they can go and are appreciated.

JollyJottings

Pancakes

Brekko with my buddy

Good workout

Great music mix piping through

E-mail from the Laff

HappyUP!!! Day 1089

HappyUP!!! - Looking Forward

Why it happened - I got to thinking

Why it makes me happy - we'll see if I end up going through with it but the budget director (me) has approved the cost of a feasibility study to explore the master bedroom addition. It may be cost prohibitive but the HappyUP!!! was thinking about how NICE of an upgrade this would be.

HappyUP!!! - bed on a blustery day

Why it happened - I was a little tired

Why it makes me happy - I live in an old home. After an early morning meeting, I went upstairs to my bedroom where you could more than hear today's storm....you could almost feel it. It was an awesome thing to be able to lie on the bed for a bit and just here the pounding outside

HappyUP!!! - a real workout

Why it happened - it's time

Why it makes me happy - is this the first step of the journey of 1000 miles? Who knows.....that will probably be predicated on whether I kept day one light enough not to be crippled for a week like the last time I tried this program. No matter...it felt good to do it.

HappyUP!!! - texting with my buddy

Why it happened - my buddy gave me a tap

Why it makes me happy - just another fun exchange between me and a buddy of mine

JollyJottings

Texting with friends

Visiting with my brof

Real workout

HappyUP!!! Day 1088

HappyUP!!! - Skyping with a friend

Why it happened - I am learning Skype

Why it makes me happy - Skype helps you be there when you are not. It's an amazing tool

HappyUP!!! - e-mail from another friend

Why it happened - this old friend sought me out

Why it makes me happy - when I was in the industry, there were some people that were gems. I had left some messages during the time that were unreturned....no big deal as my industry went through constant change. I was honored that this buddy looked me up, dug for my contact info, and sought me out. We had a lovely Skype and will be grabbing lunch in the future. NOTE: when you come across REALLY good people....don't let them go

HappyUP!!! - Kathy's Speech

Why it happened - Toastmasters

Why it makes me happy - she was able to deliver a speech today that was very personal. It brought tears to my eyes...and I am not an easy audience. This was so far from where she started a few months ago. To see this kind of growth in a person...and be priviliged to witness such a talk....was such an honor that I just can't explain it other than it is why I show up every Tuesday at Toastmasters. I was blown away

HappyUP!!! - a bittersweet goodby

Why it happened - fate

Why it makes me happy - I helped a DEAR friend get straight in direction. It comes at

some cost to me but, in the end, my friend is on the path that was chosen....and it was a

path I helped pave. I am enriched.

JollyJottings

Tears from a speech

My Toastmaster's Club

E-mail from a long lost friend KM

E-mailing with a partner in crime

Skyping with a buddy

Doing some recording

The rain

Talking with my industry buddy, MM

Lining up some recruits

HappyUP!!! Day 1087

HappyUP!!! - not having to work today

Why it happened - I'm retired

Why it makes me happy - I know..you are saying, "how can that be a HappyUP!!! when you never work?" Well, I used to work for the mortgage division of a bank. Title companies were closed.....the bank was closed...we were open. Because I was one of the so called "big bosses", I felt I had to show the staff that, "yes, as much as I don't like it, we're open." While these were usually "light" days, I still had to be there and I didn't care much for it. I am so happy on these days not to worry about it that it is beyond belief

HappyUP!!! - unclogging the downspouts

Why it happened - it was pouring

Why it makes me happy - I don't know why I don't do preventitive maintenance on the gutters. I don't think I have ever cleaned out a gutter when I wasn't wearing a raincoat. Today was more of the same. I had clogged spouts everywhere. While being pelted by the deluge is not my idea of a good time, the second I grabbed the clog and the water started pouring through, there was an instant rush of, "....I fixed it." Yeah....that makes me happy. Hey, call me a cheap date but it really did make me happy.

HappyUP!!! - some Starbucks and morning reflection

Why it happened - I woke up with a strange bittersweet/meloncholy feeling

Why it makes me happy - it didn't take long for me to figure out the source of the discomfort in my gut. By and large, I am a thinker....I have very few regrets. Yesterday, I had mistreated someone....not horribly....the other person probably didn't even know it. But...I did....at least, upon reflection. When I figured it out, I did my best to close whatever loop I had opened.

JollyJottings

Not having to work on this day

Starbucks

Some good morning reflection

Trading an e-mail with a wonderful friend

Meeting up peeps throughout the day

Unclogging the downspouts

Eccentric

I was talking to a friend - yeah, I have some of those

My friend had been talking to another mutual friend - and asked the mutual friend, "how would you describe the Nutster."

Now, the mutual friend - is not a long time contact...someone I have really not had a ton

of contact with

The mutual friend said - "eccentric"

Eccentric, when used as a noun - a person of unconventional and slightly strange views or behavior : he enjoys a colorful reputation as an engaging eccentric.

Eccentric, when used as an adjective - (of a person or their behavior) unconventional and slightly strange :my favorite aunt is very eccentric.

Now I swear - I did not put those sentences in. They were in my on-line dictionary. Eccentric sounds like a good thing

Or, as Bruce Cockburn put it - the trouble with normal is it always gets worse

Thanks - mutual friend

It's good to know - I still got it!

HappyUP!!!

HappyUP!!! Day 1086

HappyUP!!! - a buddy stopping by on a rainy day

Why it happened - it was raining

Why it makes me happy - sometimes, on a rainy Sunday afternoon, the best thing you can ever do is hang out with your friends and let it rain. Today qualified.

HappyUP!! - the Great (Meat)Loaf Off

Why it happened - we set it up

Why it makes me happy - I at least got a draw out of it. We have sent the byproducts to the outside consultants for a final determination. Just glad I didn't get smoked out of the gate.

HappyUP!!! - time for reflection...and cleaning

Why it happened - it rained

Why it makes me happy - any other day, I would have felt like I should have played golf. I spent a little extra time tidying the house up today....and it makes me feel better. It also gave me time to think of important things and people in my life and where they belong. I am so enriched and lucky to be where I am. I need to pinch myself.

HappyUP!!! Day 1085

HappyUP!!! - playing in first tournament of year

Why it happened - my partner and I got pulled in

Why it makes me happy - we were outgunned today scorewise....but not THAT bad in ball striking. We didn't make a SINGLE putt....and we must have lipped out 8 that could have fallen. We get those to drop....and things are respectable. Still, it was good to be out there

HappyUP!!! - birdie on the first hole

Why it happened - my partner hit it close

Why it makes me happy - he missed the putt but I was able to clean up that 5 footer (OK...we made a 5 foot putt....but that literally was IT). We were off to a good start...HappyUP!!!

HappyUP!!! - getting a little pop back in the driver

Why it happened - the pro gave me a little help on the range

Why it makes me happy - when I hit my driver, I get it out there with the average length guys. THAT has not been happening much lately. I now have something to work on. I uncorked a few during and toward the end of the round today that WORKED.

HappyUP!!! - iTunes fixed

Why it happened - I went to the Apple Store

Why it makes me happy - it was an EASY fix....I knew it would be....and I learned something. I also don't have to play my iPhone through my Bose as my sole music source. I'm back in the iTunes business!

JollyJottings

Birdie on the first hole

Brekko with the guys from club

Getting my iTunes fixed

Firming up some plans

Helping out a friend

Getting a little pop back in the driver

Getting a quick tip/fix from the golf pro

HappyUP!!! Day 1084

HappyUP!!! - parring the first 5 holes

Why it happened - good chipping and putting

Why it makes me happy - when I get through our first 5 holes even, I usually figure that I can score

on the front 9. Well....the bogey train hit but, after 5, I was where I wanted to be.

HappyUP!!! - slapping it around with the pros

Why it happened - they grabbed my partner and I as we were packing up

Why it makes me happy - I had been hitting my driver like dog doo....all of a sudden, playing with the big boys, I realized that wasn't going to cut it and drove the ball as well as I have for awhile. Needed that little shot in the arm going into the tournament this weekend

HappyUP!!! - going to the dump

Why it happened - I got off my butt

Why it makes me happy - how many people get this little task done....before 9 a.m.? It's a great start of the day to notch that on the belt early.

JollyJottings

Texting with a buddy

Parring the first 5 holes

Getting out with a small loss

Slapping it around with the pros

Getting the driver going