HappyUP!!! Day 715 - Don't Misunderestimate Me

HappyUP!!! - Don't Misunderestimate Me
Why it happened - President Bush is a crack up
Why it makes me happy - I got a free and easy blog post (see below) out of it. While I didn't do it on purpose to create traffic, I guess I was one of the first posts on Google this morning with "misunderestimated" as a keyword so NuttersNotes reached a new audience today.

HappyUP!!! - visit from a friend
Why it happened - he needed some advice
Why it makes me happy - I had the advice to give.....and enjoy doing so. It was also good just to visit for a bit.

HappyUP!!! - new stat counter
Why it happened - I ran out of space on the old stat counter
Why it makes me happy - the widget was really easy to install and I can, once again, monitor traffic here if I choose. Traffic isn't something I grind for but it is good to know who is peeping in.

JollyJottings

New stat counter
Misunderestimated me
Breakfast
E-mail out to prospective members
Writing a letter of reference
Haircut
Wearing shorts
Visitors from France and Hong Kong
Golf...because I like it rough

"You Misunderestimated Me"

(If this is your first visit here to Nutter'sNotes, make sure you go here and find out what this "HappyUP!!!" stuff is all about.....you!

I tuned in this morning - to President Bush's final press conference. In his opening remarks, he was acknowledging the press corp. He was waxing a bit through his memories when he said,

"You have travelled the world with me. I have respected you. I haven't liked all the stories you wrote. You misunderestimated me from time to time......"

I am going to miss President Bush - the critics can make fun of him but he has great Yogi Berra-isms that we are not likely to hear again soon.

And, follow Nutters Notes in 2009 - as it continues to grow to one of the more popular blogs on the internet. To do anything less would be to misunderestimate me.

NOTE: when you heard the word, misunderestimated, what did that make you think of President Bush? While I thought it was cute and what the President is known for, you can see how powerful words are and the importance of being Impeccable With Your Word

HappyUP!!! Day 714

HappyUP!!! - provocative questions
Why it happened - I enrolled in a new program
Why it makes me happy - I had to answer some questions that made me think a little bit....and then turn them in. While they won't be graded, the accountability that comes with turning something in made me give them some extra thought....and I liked what I produced.

HappyUP!!! - flop shots and wedge play
Why it happened - I got myself in trouble on the golf course today
Why it makes me happy - I hit a great wedge on 4, an excellent bunker shot on 6, a great pitch on 11, a tremendous flop shot on 13, a nifty hybrid chip on 14, another great bunker shot on 16, a good flop shot on 17, and another fine wedge shot on 18. While my tee to green game was not good today, my short game kept it from being embarrassing.

HappyUP!!! - my putting game
Why it happened - I'm rolling it with more confidence
Why it makes me happy - I am not hitting greens right now....a bad thing on our golf course. It's not easy getting it up and down. HappyUP!!! number 2 (above) is the up....the putter is the down. I made some great putts today and very few bad ones (except for that slight pull on 11). I'll get the long game fixed this week.....but the putter is the great equalizer going into next weekend's big tournament.

HappyUP!!! - winning a skin yesterday
Why it happened - I made birdie with a couple of great shots
Why it makes me happy - I got $34 back on a $15 investment. No, it's not a fortune but it let me play free, pocket a couple of bucks, and keeps me as a winner for the week.

HappyUP!!! Day 713

HappyUP!!! - birdie on 16
Why it happened - I hit a great shot and a great putt
Why it makes me happy - this little duo put me on the board and in the running to get a skin in the tournament today. I took the extra club to get the ball all the way to the back of the green and took dead aim. I read the putt perfectly and put the perfect stroke on the ball. Birdie!

HappyUP!!! - frost delay
Why it happened - it was cold last night
Why it makes me happy - I got some extra time to talk with different guys in the clubhouse before we all played. When we got out on the course, it was absolutely beautiful out there. The fleece came off on the first hole and it was a perfect day for a nice long walk around the course.

HappyUP!!! - football in the afternoon
Why it happened - it was the playoffs
Why it makes me happy - I grew up loving football. I don't follow it much these days...but I do like the playoffs. 18 holes of golf....and then two playoff games. THAT is a nice day.

JollyJottings

Birdie on 16
Pitch on 10
Putt on 12
8 iron on 13
Hybrid on 17
Pitch and putt on 18

HappyUP!!! Day 712....

HappyUP!!! - lounging cats
Why it happened - I was ganged up on
Why it makes me happy - I got home from the golf course and did what golfers do.....I flipped on the Golf Channel to watch the 2nd round of the Mercedes Championship. Hey, it's the first tournament of the season....kind of like opening day for baseball season. As I was reclined in the AggressiveBoy lounger, Stogie jumped up on my lap. That's no big deal. He does it all the time. What has never happened is that we were joined in our golf spectating by Shadow, the girl cat. There I am, a cat on my lap, another cat wedged between my leg and the arm of the chair, a cat head in each of my hands, while watching golf. It was a family moment.

(<---a cool photo of the above was supposed to appear right here....but there appears to be an issue with the transmission from the LapCam...aka cell phone camera) HappyUP!!! - golf
Why it happened - I tee it up regularly
Why it makes me happy - I could go on and on here. R and I were joined by a guy we played with a couple of days ago....we like him. He is going to join us again in the morning. We were also paired with another interesting guy...very interesting...I'll get into that in a minute. We were able to have a good match with no strokes given. R and I prevailed to win a bet. I made a couple of birdies on the back nine. I got up and down on 17 and 18 which proved critical to preserve the win. My score was pretty good...even with four 3 putts. It was a nice day on the course.

HappyUP!!! - tap in birdie
Why it happened - I pitched a wedge up against the hole
Why it makes me happy - ANY birdie will be a HappyUP!!! contender. When you make a birdie that you don't have to putt because your opponents give it to you, there was a HappyUP!!! involved as you watched that shot creep closer to the hole.

HappyUP!!! - C the car guy
Why it happened - he was paired with us
Why it makes me happy - C has some cool cars......Porsches.....hot Porsches. He is also building cars to try to become the Carol Shelby of today. On Tuesday, I get to stop by his garage and see the first car that he has made before it heads off to the racetrack. Oh yeah.....this is a serious vehicle. If it's not a secret, you'll see some pictures on Tuesday.

JollyJottings

Steak Ka Bob breakfast
Birdies
Getting up and down when the pressure was on
Meeting up with a new guy at the club
Being joined by a guy who is becoming a new part of the group
Winning a fiver

The Four Agreements - New Series

Today - we start something new here at NuttersNotes that dovetails into the overall vision of helping everyone increase their amount of happiness as they sojourn this orb.

...and I am very excited - to begin a discussion of The Four Agreements, by Don Miguel Ruiz, one of the best books in the field of self improvement that I have ever read.

In my working days - my staff was used to us starting every meeting by reciting and discussing the four agreements to establish the ground rules in which we would conduct ourselves during our time together.

Today, we will begin our discussion - with an overview of what the Four Agreements are. I urge you to cut and paste them to a printable format. This will allow you some time to just read the agreements and attempt to guess at what they mean to you.

At some point - you will want to buy the book as Ruiz will go into detail far greater than we will here. I will be sharing some of my interpretations as well as applications that they have made in my business and personal lives.

The Four Agreements

Be Impeccable With Your Word

Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.

Don't Take Anything Personally

Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won't be the victim of needless suffering.

Don't Make Assumptions

Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.

Always Do Your Best

Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse and regret.

This is going to be a tremendous, life changing series - so, if you are ready, start looking at the above and pondering what these words could mean to you and how abiding by them would change your thinking and day to day behaviors.

HappyUP!!! Day 711

Had a Blizzard Lately? - I really shouldn't promote fattening food items as a HappyUP!!! but I just have to.

At the same time - go over to DQ.com and click the Blizzard of the Month Icon. You can join the Blizzard Fan Club there. It's cool (I know...nice pun). You get some nice coupons during the year.

And, sorry Richard Simmons, - a Blizzard is always a HappyUP!!! Chocolate French Silk Pie is my "go to" Blizzard.

HappyUP!!! - e-mail from my friend, G
Why it happened - he was commenting on my Steak-ka-bob piece
Why it makes me happy - he said, "nice work," and he should know. This guy can flat out cook so this was high praise indeed. There's another reason to have the Ka-bob's. They now have the official.....well, the unofficial official.....G seal of approval.

HappyUP!!! - meeting with S
Why it happened - I had an appointment to go over finances
Why it makes me happy - he presented some ideas on things that I could do with my investments.....and we got to visit. A good meeting where info is obtained in enjoyable company is part and parcel to a HappyUP!!!

HappyUP!!! - evening plans cancelled
Why it happened - my friend had an unexpected visitor
Why it makes me happy - while I enjoy meeting up with my friend, I was in a "home alone" kind of mood tonight.

HappyUP!!! - file cabinet
Why it happened - I dug it out of the garage
Why it makes me happy - I was able to do a considerable amount of cleanup by being able to place files that were laying around. I have room to put more files there and will relegate some of my reference files, the non-working ones, out to that cabinet and out of my prime filing space.

JollyJottings

Evening plans cancelled
Visit with my financial planner
Call from PS
Driving the ScottRod
Great sleep
File Cabinet
E-mail setting up a lunch
Bob Proctor e-mail
Errands
Getting rid of a shred pile

Budget Stretcher - Steak Ka Bobs

A few days ago - one of my HappyUP!!!s involved a money saving idea that I promised to share. This is a GREAT one.

If you are a vegetarian - this won't help you out much...sorry, maybe the next budget stretcher will help you out.

If you like steak - this is for you.

Have you seen what a single rib eye costs? - it can be anywhere from 8 to 11 bucks...easy! That is enough to make one become a Economic Vegan.

I am here for you - check out Filet Mignon...uh....I mean London Broil. You can get a big slab of that for around $4.....and turn it into Filet Mignon.

Shhhhh - don't tell anyone what you are doing.
Step 1 - get yourself a piece of London Broil. Throw some garlic salt (or regular salt..or tenderizer) on it and then FORK THE CRAP out of it. After you make some good size holes, this would be a good time to pour on some Worchester or Soy Sauce or whatever you like on your steak. Fork it some more.....this is the key. Forking TENDERIZES and is what is going to make this seem like a filet.

Step 2 - lay your piece o beef out and cut off all the big pieces of fat. Then, cut it in bite size strips....you come back and then cut those into cubes

Step 3 - put them on skewers and grill them up however you like

Step 4 - "hey, the filets are ready," is the next thing that you say.

FACT - when people get meat on skewers, they will eat less. In addition to your base cost being less, so is your consumption per plate. I find that I get about 5 pretty full skewers from this. Your meat cost is about 80 cents a person.

Just right - in these days of a challenged economy.

HappyUP!!! Day 710

HappyUP!!! - birdie on the first hole
Why it happened - I hit enough club to get to the back pin
Why it makes me happy - 1) a birdie is always a HappyUP!!! 2) getting the round started with a birdie is an additional HappyUP!!! 3) that birdie got me a skin in the big game.....$

HappyUP!!! - winning my back nine game
Why it happened - EM joined us at the turn
Why it makes me happy - we play a friendly game for a couple of bucks....and it's always better to win the $ than to lose them. Today, I won a couple of wagers.

HappyUP!!! - birdie on 16
Why it happened - I hit a great shot and putt
Why it makes me happy - 16 is a scary little hole. It's easy to hit short (in the lake) or long (tough putt) or right (impossible to get up and down for a par). Today, I hit it within 12 feet and drained the putt.

HappyUP!!! - a friend stopped by for dinner
Why it happened - my friend gave me a call
Why it makes me happy - everyone loves it when I burn them a quick taco. Food and fellowship is a HappyUP!!!

HappyUP!!! Day 709

HappyUP!!! - not back to the grind and ZERO
Why it happened - I retired
Why it makes me happy - yesterday and today would have starting the year all over again....for the umpteenth time.....from scratch. That is the way it is when you work in sales management at a large corporation. I REALLY have appreciated the last couple of days as I have taken in the drudgery of starting up the New Year.

HappyUP!!! - birdies on the bookends
Why it happened - I have skills?
Why it makes me happy - I was just going to practice today. After hitting some balls and then putting for a bit, I was invited to play the back 9 with one guy I know and three other guys. On the first hole I played with them, I rolled in an impossible hybrid chip shot from 50 feet with 8 feet of break. A good start is a HappyUP!!! On the final hole, I knocked a 7 iron about 12 feet from the hole, read the uphill putt with a little left to right break perfectly, and then hit the putt where I wanted to. THAT birdie saved me about $10...HappyUP!!!

HappyUP!!! - financial seminar
Why it happened - my financial advisor invited me
Why it makes me happy - free food! Also, the person that was giving the talk is sometimes on CNBC.....a super bright Wharton Business School guy. It was a good talk explaining more of what has happened. I got a chance to talk to him about a theory that I have had...most people I talk to aren't qualified to shoot holes in it. He was able to give me some insight where I may have been off a bit.....that's a HappyUP!!! because, for the life of me, I could not see how we were going to get on track economically. I am not sure this guy's analysis was right regarding my thesis but he could be which is more than anyone else has been able to be.

JollyJottings

Not back to the grind and ZERO
A good practice session
A wine and cheese affair
A reading session
Birdie on 10
Birdie on 18
7 iron on 16
Putt on 15
Financial talk
Unexpected 9 holes

HappyUP!!! Day 708

HappyUP!!! - breakfast with my friend, E
Why it happened - E set it up
Why it makes me happy - E is a good friend and I love it when we break bread together. We shared some good info this morning....and pancakes!

HappyUP!!! - meeting up with another friend later
Why it happened - my friend called me to see if I was free
Why it makes me happy - while never "free," I am pretty inexpensive! Har Har Har...hadn't seen this friend in 2009 so it was good catching up.

HappyUP!!! - turned in the entry fee
Why it happened - I got on it
Why it makes me happy - my friend and I will be playing in a Big Boys golf tournament this weekend. I haven't played in one of these in 20 years. The kids are stronger and better than they were back in my day so the "old guys" are going to need to do some fancy shooting to compete. This event is actually one of the ones that inspired me to want to get my game back in shape. I am still not in game shape to play an individual tournament but we'll be competitive in a partner's affair.

HappyUP!!! - thankful
Why it happened - my neighbors had a tragedy
Why it makes me happy - I am very happy that I did not suffer a house fire....but my heart goes out for my neighbors down the block who had that happen last night. They spent such a long time living in that remodel/addition. It made me very sad this morning.....but it reminded me to be grateful for everything that I have.

JollyJotting

Breakfast with a friend
Meeting up with another friend later
Entering a golf tournament
A solid round of errand running
Thankful for home safety
A purring cat
A nice little rain

HappyUP!!! Day 707.....A Gorgeous Sunday

HappyUP!!! - seeing a friend
Why it happened - we set it up
Why it makes me happy - my friend and I had corresponded over the phone and e-mailed for years....we don't live that far away but had never taken the opportunity to get together. Grabbing a bite to eat with a friend is always a HappyUP!!! and a valued time to spend a couple of hours

HappyUP!!! - deciding to golf
Why it happened - I blew off the first wild card game
Why it makes me happy - we had a frost delay which was going to throw my day off. The round of golf I played was as vanilla as it comes. It was possibly the most vanilla of a round I can remember playing. Nothing too bad happen and nothing extraordinarily good happened. I got to play with a couple of guys that I don't play with that much. The fellowship was better than the tube any old day.

HappyUP!!! - finding out I won yesterday's tournament
Why it happened - they blind paired me with a person that had a better round than I did yesterday
Why it makes me happy - we won! I pocketed a couple of bucks....HappyUP!!!

JollyJottings

Crepes
Seeing a friend
Illuminations
Sales
Deciding to golf
Workout
Winning yesterday
Winning today
Putt on 13
Sandshot on 12
9 iron on 5

HappyUP!!! Day 706

HappyUP!!! - no...no....SUPERHappyUP!!!...catching a break at 5:30
Why it happened - the policeman cut me a break
Why it makes me happy - I was going to get a morning coffee. The police officer alleged that I ran a red light. I don't run red lights....unless I just wasn't paying attention. It was possible. I didn't argue with the officer. My driving record was clean....and it still is. How do you like those flashing lights behind you?

HappyUP!!! - a great golf round
Why it happened - very few mistakes
Why it makes me happy - I went back to my notes of a couple of months ago when I was playing well. I got to the course early and did more than just warmed up. I actually had a practice session in the cold. I may be back on to something.

HappyUP!!! - 4 for 4 on the hybrid chip
Why it happened - I rely on this shot
Why it makes me happy - people think it takes a degree of skill. I think it is the lazy man's way to get the ball up and down. I was perfect in this area today.

HappyUP!!! - playing with a new member
Why it happened - the member put in with us on the tee sheet
Why it makes me happy - it was only 5 months ago when I was a new member. I knew no one. Now, it is my turn to make people feel welcome.

HappyUP!!! - birdie putt on 15
Why it happened - I hit a good wedge to give me the opportunity
Why it makes me happy - I could have walked off that green with a par. I read the break perfectly and hit the putt where I wanted to. Any birdie is a HappyUP!!!

JollyJottings

Playing with a new member
Shooting a good score
4 for 4 with the hybrid chip
No mistakes with the wedge
Birdie putt on 15
Wedge on 5
Practice session
A lovely day
Two wildcard games
Setting up for crepes
Leftovers

HappyUP!!! Day 705

HappyUP!!! - new money saving tactic
Why it happened - I saw it on TV
Why it makes me happy - fool people, save money, and enjoy a great meal. This is going to be separate posting as to the how. For now, this is really cool.....trust me

HappyUP!!! - running into and chatting with my old pal, BB
Why it happened - we got rained out at the golf course
Why it makes me happy - BB is a guy that I have been acquainted with for 30 years. He is still out there golfing at age 61.....and doing it well. Ahhhh....another guy after my own heart

HappyUP!!! - the little golf we did play
Why it happened - I golf
Why it makes me happy - in the wind and rain, I hit a wedge into hole 1. Hole 2 has been problematic for me lately. In the crummy weather, I knocked it about 20 feet from the hole. I just need a little good weather to work on my swing...get another lesson....and I'll be back on form.

JollyJottings

Hitting balls
Being covered
Hitting the second green
Running into BB

HappyUP!!! Day 704.....New Year 2009

I know - you want a really cool sweathirt, don't you?

Hey - don't start off the New Year with envy. It's not an admirable trait, you know.

Be thankful - and appreciate the things you have first....

....and make sure that what you want - in 2009 is meaningful...really meaningful.

The times we are in - give everyone an excellent opportunity to realize what is really important.

....and join me - by taking the HappyUP!!! experience and adding it to your daily routine for the next 21 days.

HappyUP!!! - 5 iron on 13
Why it happened - I made a great swing
Why it makes me happy - this was one of those shots that feels like you don't even hit the ball.....I had previously hit a similar shot two holes before...but it was the wrong club. Not on 13....the ball was dead on to that back pin position and had a chance to be an ace but came up 7 feet short.

HappyUP!!! - Raleys
Why it happened - I went scavenging on New Years Night
Why it makes me happy - I found a place to get a propane cartridge refill.....on New Years Night. I don't want be without heat in that golf cart should we play golf tomorrow. Raleys was the third place I went to...and last resort this evening.

HappyUP!!! - deciding to throw the cart cover on
Why it happened - it got colder right before teeing off
Why it makes me happy - my buddy and I stayed warm today....on a day that got cold. We were almost going to shine the cover and the heater. We actually circled back to the car to get set up.

HappyUP!!! - Seeing the Fish
Why it happened - he was at my golf course
Why it makes me happy - "Fishsticks" used to be "one of the gang" in high school. He's a good guy but I never get to see him. He is married and has a family...all that stuff, you know. It was nice to visit with him after I finished up golfing.

HappyUP!!! - phone call from my good buddy
Why it happened- it was New Year's Day
Why it makes me happy - glad to hear my buddy survived New Year's Eve......and a pleasant phone call ensued. Here's another person I will be seeing soon.

HappyUP!!! Day 703

HappyUP!!! - nice, toasty buns
Why it happened - my bro/sis-in-law got me a cart cover and heater for Christmas
Why it makes me happy - look in the background of the picture. THAT is heavy, cold fog. You see what Boz is holding....that's the portable heater.....do you see how the cart is covered? Start putting the puzzle together... an enclosed cart, a portable heater....=WARM golfers.
That setup worked like a dream on a very cold morning.
It's supposed to rain lightly on Friday......no reason not to golf with this arrangement.


HappyUP!!! - 6 iron on 7
Why it happened - I stroked it
Why it made me happy - what can I say....it was foggy....another guy had hit it close.....and I stuffed it. This was one of those few PURE shots that come around every few rounds. It doesn't even feel like you hit a ball.
Like buttah....

HappyUP!!! - phone call from an old friend
Why it happened - I had thought to e-mail last night
Why it makes me happy - we had a great conversation....great.....which will lead to getting together soon.

HappyUP!!! Day 702

HappyUP!!! - Toastmasters
Why it happened - it was an on week
Why it makes me happy - a new member gave us a check today. I gave a great speech.....a recycled one about the poet Robert Service.

HappyUP!!! - a golf match with the kids and Boz
Why it happened - Boz set it up
Why it makes me happy - Boz and I took on two of the kids from his high school golf team. The battle came down to the last putt when M made a four footer to beat us by 1! I hit two of the best shots of my life in the clutch on 17 and 18...it's a HappyUP!!! when you can turn it on anytime but especially when the chips are down.

HappyUP!!! - my Christmas present came in the mail
Why it happened - my bro and sis-in-law ordered it for me
Why it makes me happy - it's a golf cart cover to go with the portable heater they gave me......and it got really cold out on the course today. I'm riding in a cart tomorrow....enclosed and toasty!

HappyUP!!! - insurance paperwork in
Why it happened - I finally G.O.M.A. (Got off my......)
Why it makes me happy - I have been on Cobra since May. This little move should save me a couple hundred bucks a month....just have to wait to get processed and approved. Hmmmm.....what can a guy do with a couple hundred bucks a month extra? It will be a HappyUP!!! figuring it out!

HappyUP!!! - back to back birdies
Why it happened - I showed some skills
Why it makes me happy - back in the day and on an easier course, this happened a bit more frequently. Since joining Morgan Creek in August, my records indicate this is the first time I have pulled this little trick off. A birdie is always a HappyUP!!! but, when you string them, it's a SuperHappyUP!!!

JollyJottings

Delivering a speech
Remembering Sam Magie
A new member
Only stiff and a touch weak...on Day 5 after workout
A golf match with "the kids"
Teeing it up with Boz
Orange
Insurance paperwork in
Back to back birdies
7 iron on 3...wedge on 4...9 iron on 5....8 iron on 6....6 iron on 7....5 iron on 10....wedge on 12....7 iron on 13 ....hybrid on 17....7 iron on 18
My Xmas present came in the mail

HappyUP!!! Day 701...Last Monday of 2008

HappyUP!!! - supplemental 401k decision
Why it happened - I made a call
Why it makes me happy - I had received correspondence regarding my supplemental 401k ..."must act by 12/31...IRS rules." I had overlooked this. I didn't know what they were talking about...all I have is my 401k... is that the same thing as supplemental 401k? Lump sum or payments? ....what? This is my 401k. I'm not drawing on that for many years! I picked up the phone. It turns out that I did have a small supplemental 401k that was not on any of my statements. Because it was a small amount, I had no decision to make (HappyUP!!!) and I am getting a lump sum of cash in March (HappyUP!!!).

HappyUP!!! - found accident early
Why it happened - the cat missed the box
Why it makes me happy - I think I cleaned up the foul liquid before it left a stench on my floor!

HappyUP!!! - text and e-mail from RV
Why it happened - he was thinking of me
Why it makes me happy - RV is back in Nebraska. He is a gem that I picked up as a friend on this trip. We don't get to chat very often, however. It was fascinating that he contacted me because, just last week, I was trying to find his e-mail address. Anyone heard of Synchronicity?

JollyJottings

Located Camera
Sweater was turned in
Stiff.....not sore
Found "accident" early
NOT going to work on this Monday
Breakfast
Post Office....and the hot chick there
E-mail from RV
E-mail from M
Playing some guitar
Progress on insurance
Cleanup
401k info

HappyUP!!! Day 700

HappyUP!!! - golf shots
Why they happened - I practice
Why it makes me happy - I hit a flop shot on 13 to get up and down that an extremely large part of the golfing population couldn't hit. I hit a very serious chip shot up for a gimmie on 17. My 5 iron into 18 ended about 6 feet from the hole. My 8 iron on 10 almost flew in the cup. That's pretty good stuff and, while those shots are in the air, they provide a real HappyUP!!!

HappyUP!!! - Wah
Why it happened - he didn't have to work
Why it makes me happy - we get to play with Wah about once a month...maybe more. He's a good guy but I really like it when he loses and has to buy my drink!

HappyUP!!! - getting golf setup for the week
Why it happened - Boz is feeling better and I had some foresight
Why it makes me happy - I decided to check the tee sheet this week.....the course was filling up so I made our times for all week. This includes starting the year off right by golfing on New Year's Day. GOLF!...Covered....all the way through next Sunday. HappyUP!!!

JollyJottings

Golf shots - hole 1....6 iron on 7...drive on 8...6 iron on 9...8 iron on 10...4 iron on 11....flop shot on 13.... hybrid on 14....putt on 16....chip on 17....5 iron on 18

Chargers win
Call from my friend, S
Being joined by Wah
E-mail exchange
Lining up a week of golf

HappyUP!!! Day 699

HappyUP!!! - birdie on 1
Why it happened - I made a 20 footer
Why it makes me happy - starting with a birdie is a SuperHappyUP!!! You get ahead of the game. Also, though not confirmed, that probably got me a skin and some dough-re-me in the big skins game.

HappyUP!!! - made a 50 foot putt
Why it happened - I hit it and gave it a chance
Why it makes me happy - I was looking at a double bogey if I 3 putted this tough one. Instead, it went in the jar and kept me one under.
HappyUP!!! - wedge on 4
Why it happened - I hit a perfect shot
Why it makes me happy - the guy I was playing with was standing next to me. He doesn't play with us often but he is a good player. Before I hit, he said, "show me something." When I hit it, he said, "you did!"

HappyUP!!! - family gathering
Why it happened - my sis in law has a big family and likes to entertain
Why it makes me happy - it's nice to show up to a huge event. The annual gift exchange is always fun. Kids running around. Lots of conversations. Good family times.

JollyJottings

Tee Shot on 1 Putt on 1 for birdie
Putt on 2 ...50 footer in the jar
Wedge on 4 to 4 feet
Putt on 5
5 iron on 7.....bunker shot on 7
8 iron on 8
Chip shot on 9
8 iron on 10 Chip on 15 Chip on 16 Chip on 18
Family gathering
Gift exchange
Walk in the park

HappyUP!!!...early A.M. edition...

Here is a "quick hit" at 8 in the morning - looking forward to what is going on today.

HappyUP!!! - no frost delay
Why it happened - there was a cloud cover last night
Why it makes me happy - it won't be as cold on the golf course.....and I'll finish earlier

HappyUP!!! - cleaning up the post-Xmas mess
Why it WILL happen - I'll make myself
Why it is going to make me happy - hey, who LOVES living in chaos? Peace in the environment

HappyUP!!! - winning a skin or two
Why it WILL happen - I am going to birdie some holes that others don't
Why it is going to make me happy - a birdie is an automatic HappyUP!!!....all the sweeter when I take the other golfer's dough!

HappyUP!!! - less sore
Why it WILL happen - time heals
Why it is going to make me happy - as I speak, I still can't pull a shirt on without hurting. Shampooing the hair was a painful exercise in itself. I am thinking that, by tonight, I may still be a little tight but the pain will be gone.

HappyUP!!! Day 698

HappyUP!!! - managing to swing a club
Why it happened - sheer will?
Why it makes me happy - I really wanted to play golf today. Remember my "ouch" post this morning due to that workout last night? SOMEHOW, I managed to put the club on the back of the golf ball decently today even though every swing was stiff and painful

HappyUP!!! - frost delay
Why it happened - it was frosty
Why it makes me happy - my golf buddy and I got to sit in the clubhouse, have a cup of coffee, relax, and chat about our respective Xmas. It was a nice delay.

HappyUP!!! - e-mail
Why it happened - a friend returned my message
Why it makes me happy - I didn't think I would get the info that I did.....or so fast. A loop was closed for the better and sooner....HappyUP!!!

JollyJottings

Chip n putt on 3...Wedge on 4...6 iron on 6....5 iron on 7....6 iron on 10....twelve....6 iron on 13....putt on 16.... sand shot on 18

Able to swing a golf club

E-mail from C

Frost delay

OUCH!

Did you catch my second HappyUP!!! posting yesterday - where I took on a pre-New Year taste of the P90x workout program?

If you have ever started - a workout program when you have been off for a while, the usual deal is that you are very tight the next day and some soreness starts to set in. A lot of times the soreness is on day 2 after the workout.

I did this workout at about 5:30 last night - by the time I went to bed at 10, I was tight. By 2 in the morning, after waking up and rolling around a few times, I decided to get up for a bit. It didn't matter what position I was in...

...my triceps were screaming - as they continue to this morning.

It's a severe soreness - but it isn't an injury. This tells me that 1) it's a good workout and/or 2) I am really out of shape.

I am betting on the "and" - of the "and/or".

I don't think this is going to do - much for my golf game on a very cold morning today.

Who knows? - maybe it will make me swing a little easier...what can I say, I'm looking for the HappyUP!!!

HappyUP!!! Day 697.5 Xmas Day 2008...Be a HappyUP!!! Animal!

What the heck is this? - a second round of HappyUP!!!s on the same day. Yeah, that's right. You can do them whenever you like...

If you want to do three HappyUP!!!s - in one writing, that is the minimum

If you want to do 4, 5, 6, 10 - at a time...you can do that too

You want to do an entirely different set? - hey, they do that when they workout....just make sure every set has 3 reps of HappyUP!!!s.

I have to laugh - at something I heard today. It was Xmas....there was some HappyUP!!! finery given out for presents. Someone said, "what is that?"

Someone else said - "that is his blog."

Someone else chimed in - "somebody has way too much time on their hands!"

There was a day - when that kind of put down may have effected me. While I heard it today, I had to laugh. I look at how people spend their time....and they kid me about spending 5-10 minutes at the end of the day getting to relive the wonderful moments of my day.

NEVER....EVER....EVER - give anyone the permission to put you down....especially those that don't get it. I'll get that retort again and I will fire back with the same thing I did today, "the 5-10 minutes I spend on that a day are the most life changing minutes I can spend in my life.

The comment inspired me - look at what I have created here......do you want to call it a diary? I'm good with that even though it's not exactly that. I have a detailed record that I can easily reference what I was doing and what was making me feel oh so good on any of the last 690 days....

....and I want the same for you - more badly than I do for myself. I want you to be a HappyUP!!! hunter every single day. Remember what the Constitution of our great country says....

"Dedicated to life, liberty, and THE PURSUIT of Happiness" - it doesn't say "life, liberty, and wait for happiness to come." It says PURSUE.

I won't stop this - because I want you to GOYA (figure out the acronym...I'll give you a hint....Get Off are the first two words.....Your is the third.......grind out word four, Einstein) everyday and start looking for what goes right in your world.

Here is some more HappyUP!!!s

HappyUP!!! - P90X workout
Why it happened - I finally opened the box
Why it makes me happy - I got through the first workout.......and I sucked! I was so weak it wasn't even funny. Do you know what the great thing about being so weak is? I have no where to go but UP! There is no doubt that this program is going to help me build some strength and flexibility.......exactly what I need on the golf course.

HappyUP!!! - my attitude
Why it happened - I "get it"
Why it makes me happy - this one is realted to the P90x and is about my mindset. These folks were doing incline pushups with their feet up on a chair. After some regular push ups, I had to get on my knees to finish the workout....but my arms were burning as much as theirs even though I could only do a fraction on my knees of what the people on the video could do straight up. Pull ups was the same thing....I had to get a chair and put a foot on it to help me do more than one....but I used my arm and pulled to exhaustion. Failure? No
Depressed for being weak? No. What then?....I did my best (which is one of the Four Agreements....a feature we will be walking through soon here at Nutter's Notes). I'm tight right now....I'll be tight tomorrow....and sore the day after that....but a journey of 1000 miles starts with the first step.

HappyUP!!! - starting the workout
Why it happened - I said, "that's it"
Why it makes me happy - I said, "I'll wait until Jan 1." Then I said, "why should I delay.....I've already had this program in the box for 6 months or more." I took some action. We'll see what the follow through looks like but I have a start.

HappyUP!!! Day 697 - Xmas 2008

HappyUP!!! - my nephews and my neice
Why it happened - it's Christmas and I got a picture
Why it makes me happy - I don't have many, if any, pictures of the three of them together. It's funny that they were springing this on me as I was....well...see the third HappyUP!!!









HappyUP!!! - Nibbles the Dog
Why it happened - my nephew got an early Christmas present
Why it makes me happy - it's been awhile since there has been a dog in the family....now we have Nibbles! Nibbles is about 9 weeks old. He's a Rottweiller. I think he is going to get a little bit bigger. He has excellent markings. Now, if I need to borrow-a-pooch, I have a place to go.






HappyUP!!! - my annual surprise gift
Why it happened - I do it every year
Why it makes me happy - I give the kids cash for Xmas. They can always use it. I try to be inventive in where they find the dough. A bowl of macaroni salad, a vat of pudding, inside a block of ice, inside HappyHands, hemmed into a t-shirt, etc. This year, I framed the picture of me you see to the left but I taped a backing hard to the picture. I thought that they would just tear through the 8 1/2 x 11 picture of their uncle to get to the greenbacks. It would be consistent with Xmas' past. Nope....they actually were careful so they could save the picture. Awwwwww.....my old heart was warmed.

HappyUP!!!

JollyJottings

A morning walk
A last minute gift idea
My nephews and niece loving their gifts
Nibbles the Dog
Poker Tournament
Breakfast
Gifts for me
Thanks from a recipient of a doorstep gift

HappyUP!!! Day 696

Xmas Eve - some HappyUP!!!s don't need the entire drill. Whether I have been with family, spouse, friends, girlfriend or alone, I have always associated Christmas Eve with two of my best friends...

...Solitude and Reflection - a gentle peace seems to descend on the piece of the world that I find myself in on this particular night.

Later on - after wrapping the presents that I have waited to wrap until the last minute...

....and dropped a present on the doorstep of unsuspecting friends - I'll do what I do every Christmas Eve.

I take a walk - it's usually late...and cold. Tonight, it may be a little wet so the walk won't be as far.....but it will be meaningful and a personal HappyUP!!! that I don't need to put in a journal.

Let's look at today


HappyUP!!! - jeans
Why it happened - my regular jeans got dirty
Why it makes me happy - I slipped on this other pair of jeans I don't wear that often. They were a little snug and I went, "uh oh!" My fear was the holidays had got to me a little more than I had wanted. Then I said, "wait ....let's check something out." I peeled them off and found out they were an inch smaller in the waist than my regular jeans and pants. HappyUP!!!

HappyUP!!! - dropping off gifts
Why it happened - I do this sometimes
Why it makes me happy - the people that got some presents weren't expecting them. They hadn't gotten anything for me......and that is as it should be. These were just small gifts but I know they will like them.

HappyUP!!! - the leaf patrol
Why it happened - I was perceptive
Why it makes me happy - I was heading out the door to do a couple of pre-Christmas errands. I noticed that the city crew had made a HUUUGE pile of leaves in front of my house. I was a "staging area" for the neighborhood leaves today. Even though it was sprinkling, I grabbed my rake and got all of my leaves and some of my two neighbors into the pile. An hour later, the big truck came and carried away the debris. A feeling of clean swept over me.

HappyUP!!! Day 695

Remember - there is no rule that you have to stop at three HappyUP!!!s....especially when you are on a roll.
Today was rolling...rolling....rolling....Rawhide! Yippppppeeeee!

<----Happy is looking good after joining the Royal Order of the Buffaloes.....yabbadabbadooo
HappyUP!!! - golf
Why it happened - it was supposed to rain today......but it didn't. It was beautiful.
Why it makes me happy - you know me....golf is my thang. A long sleeve T-shirt and a golf shirt was all that was required to golf in the 50 degree weather today. And, no, just because my brethren in some of the colder parts of the country are hunkered down and travelers are stranded doesn't mean I can't dig my weather.

HappyUP!!! - 11, 12, 15th and 18th holes
Why it happened - I got in some unexpected golf....no rain
Why it makes me happy - I put together some STELLAR shots which yielded two birdies and should have been four if the other two putts wouldn't have lipped out. Birdies are a given HappyUP!!!
HappyUP!!! - a day trade
Why it happened - I bought some stock at the close yesterday
Why it makes me happy - the stock was up today, I sold it, and then the stock came back down. A nice, quick profit is always going to be a HappyUP!!!

HappyUP!!! - breakfast with the Toastmasters
Why it happened - we planned it
Why it makes me happy - excellent fellowship with some people that I really like....and good food too.

HappyUP!!! - my order came in
Why it happened - my guy came through
Why it makes me happy - I have Xmas presents to give! Whew....nothing like cutting it close!

HappyUP!!! - homemade tamales
Why it happened - I have a Mexican friend whose wife churns these puppies out
Why it makes me happy - when I get any gift, I'm happy.......these treats are special!

HappyUP!!! - English Toffee
Why it happened - my friend from Tamaletown came back with more gifts
Why it makes me happy - English toffee.....c'mon....who doesn't love English Toffee. Toffeelady.net is the place to go if you want some gooooooood English Toffee.
HappyUP!!! - a new book
Why it happened - my financial guy sent me a present
Why it makes me happy - see the above....I love presents! This is going to be a good book for holiday reading.

JollyJottings

Breakfast with a group
An unexpected golf day
Day trade - got out just in time
Tacos
Life
Que Jong
My order arrived
11th hole
18th hole
Putt on 2
12th hole

World's Greatest Eggnog Recipe

Yes....you can buy it premade - but maybe that is why I never cared for eggnog.

If you want to take the time - SEVEN days, and whip up a batch of a truly magical elixir for your friends and self, go see my buddy's, Glen, post right here

Just reading about the process - was a HappyUP!!! for me......and I don't even drink!

While I am not sure how you'll feel the next day - I am sure the consumption will be a temporal HappyUP!!!

HappyUP!!! Day 694

HappyUP!!! - a phone call from a friend
Why it happened - my friend got some good news
Why it makes me happy - c'mon....don't you love it when someone that is not a relative calls YOU because something really good has happened to them and they just need to share. They get to share....and you know that you are so well thought of that you get to be the beneficiary of their joy.

<--"The Fez" HappyUP!!! - "In the Deep"
Why it happened - I was watching an old episode of "House"
Why it makes me happy - I only heard this song during the movie, "Crash." When I heard the first strains of the song again tonight, I went, "man, I love this song." It's one of those songs that grips you to the core...or it does it for me. It was good to be gripped that hard.

HappyUP!!! - breakfast with the Boz
Why it happened - Boz is off work this week
Why it makes me happy - Boz and I have golfed and played tennis....today we broke bread for the first time. I love the holidays...not for the presents...but for the slower pace that it brings at times.

JollyJottings

Breakfast with the Boz
Talking with a friend via phone
Sunshine after rain...and before more
Getting home last night

HappyUP!!! Day 693

HappyUP!!! - My friend's Loft Cooling
Why it happened - he's moving
Why it makes me happy - it was only a few years ago that I went to his Loft Warming. It is good to see that he is moving onward and upward with a new job out of state. I am sad to see him move the miles away but happy for him. I also got to see another friend of his that I met due to this relationship.

<----picture of a message in his loft. He is a teacher of creativity. HappyUP!!! - Grant wins the State Championship
Why it happened - they got picked to represent Nor Cal in the CIF Open High School football championship game
Why it makes me happy - they are from my town as well as being the only NorCal team to beat Southern Cal in the championships. There were 5 different divisions and SoCal won them all....except the big one! Grant was a bit of the underdog. Don't we love to see the underdogs win

HappyUP!!! - a rainy morning of movies
Why it happened - it was raining...no golf
Why it makes me happy - there are so many movies that I haven't seen that it is almost shameful. The upside is that, if I ever want to see a movie, I don't have far to go. "Into the Blue," "Something About Polly," "Swordfish," and "Mr Deeds" are all flicks that I caught a piece of this morning.

JollyJottings

Grant wins State Championship
Loft Cooling Party

An Overlooked HappyUP

I went to my refrigerator this morning - because I was a little bit thirsty.

I took my water bottle - and filled it with some cold, filtered water.

If you are being perceptive - you know how good a nice, cold drink of water feels on a hot day when you are really, really thirsty.

One could argue - that the feeling of ingesting that liquid is one of the BEST feelings in life. Close your eyes and imagine it. The feeling is so good you can almost recall it from memory.

On this morning - I was happy for living in a place where having drinkable water is a given.

I read an article not too long ago - I forget the statistic but the percentage of people in the world that do not have his privilege (NO...it is not a right) astonished me.

What did I do to be so privileged? - I was born in a place where this is provided.

....and it made me happy - what was the cost of this moment of elevated pleasure? That's right...absolutely nothing.

Live the HappyUP!!! mentality - make it a part of your mental construct.

Trust me - you'll be better off for the effort.


If the thought of people not having water moves you to want to take action, go to WaterForPeople.

HappyUP!!! Day 692

HappyUP!!! - see Smiley over here on the left
Why it happened - the wind came up and Smiley a hair short of the green...buried on a 60 degree incline just under the lip of the trap
Why it makes me happy - I could barely stand to get a club on Smiley....let alone apply enough force to muscle him out and up. Smiley shot straight up in the air, came down in front of the hole, nearly went in, and finished about 8 feet from the hole. I managed to make the putt. This had double bogey written all over it but par was salvaged.....and THIS is why I play golf.
NOTE: it won't be many more years that I won't be able to play this shot!

HappyUP!!! - breakfast
Why it happened - we had a frost delay
Why it makes me happy - I play golf on Saturday mornings so I don't get to have breakfast with what I call my adopted family. It was great to be there and get caught up again. I got to see my best friend's China pictures.

HappyUP!!! - birdies
Why it happened - made some great shots
Why it makes me happy - a birdie is a HappyUP!!! any day of the week. On Saturdays, we have a skins game. I didn't get the final results but at least I am in the running to make some dough this week.

JollyJottings

Seeing my adopted family
Seeing my best friend and his China pictures
Getting to the golf course just in time
Saving par on the first hole
Birdies on 6 and 12
A tremendous par save on 13
A creative par save on 10
My 7 iron on 16
New shoes
A couple of good e-mails

Late

(A special post for my friends over at SundayScribblings)


"Oh God....I'm late" - when I think of this malaise that drifts upon us from time to time, I think about the state that puts most people in.
Then, I think about the HappyUP!!! concept - that I promote here.
When running late - we seem to go into a trance. All we notice are things that will now make us more late.

"Where are my keys" - "dang it, I snagged my nylons.....another red light....what is going to happen? I'm going to be in trouble, etc......"

Go there - right now. Imagine that you are late. Get that sense of chaos....a total lack of peace. Can you feel the anxiety?

What are the odds that you will notice a HappyUP!!! - during that funk.

And a funk is all it is - and a very dangerous one at that. You don't think well....drive well....function well. It is just a funk brought on, not by being late, but by yourself. Doubt me? Go back a couple of lines....you weren't late. You artificially put yourself there.

What do you do? - a couple of things to remember

First - the easiest way to run out of time is to have too much of it. How many times have you had an appointment to go to, looked at your watch, and then said, "oh, I still have a half an hour." DANGER, Will Robinson! You will go on to something else and the next thing you know it is FORTY minutes later. Be careful whenever you get yourself in this position and be vigilant to your clock if you MUST be on time.

Second - call ahead. "Sorry....I just ran out of morning. It looks like I need to push back fifteen minutes." You say fifteen minutes when you KNOW you will only run FIVE minutes late. Guess what you just did? You took being late, turned it around, and now you will run early from the time you renegotiated the agreement. NO need to stress.
"Honey, guess what.....my monthly blessing is running late" - guys, I am usually a lot of help and can dispense a lot of wisdom. When this kind of late happens, I don't know what to tell you! Go buy some cigars?

Want to experience more happiness in your life? - go here and find out what HappyUP!!! is all about. Give me 21 days and you will change your life.

A Gratitude Moment

Long time followers here - know all about what a HappyUP!!! is. It's something that happens during the day that gives you a momentary feeling of happiness.

Apparently - there are some smart people out there that have written about instances that are a little bigger. One individual calls it The Gratitude Moment. (Wow...how considerate of me to give you that link so you can go there directly.....what a giver I am!)

In the article - the author talks about getting a letter that says, "we have the results of your cancer test and they were negative." Would that be a HappyUP!!! ?

Uh.....DUUUHHHHH! - but I don't mean to be flip about it. The author goes on to say how he viewed the world differently upon receiving that news.

That would be what I call - a SuperHappyUP!!! and I am not going to discount the values of those one bit.

You don't experience those everyday - however. Upon reading that article, I thought it would be a good time to remind all of my readership that Gratitude Moments (aka-HappyUP!!!s) do not have to be large earth shattering events.

As a matter of fact - they rarely are. The key to changing your life with the HappyUP!!! intervention is to get in the habit of actively looking for those things that go your way...those things that could have gone another way.

We have a bad habit - of expecting things to go right. We take the fact that we caught every traffic light being green as the way the world is supposed to work. We don't notice. Yet, take a day when you are in any kind of hurry and miss two out of five lights....you are stressing out!

I'm not suggesting that you don't stress out - well, actually, I would like you to work to that place. In the meantime, not noticing the bad would be a form of denial.

What I am suggesting - is that by noticing more of the things that go well, you will naturally crowd out the amount of attention you have to spend on the things that go poorly. It WILL just naturally happen.

Keep practicing - your HappyUP!!!s. While I suggest that you capture three everyday and write about them, you will want to record 5...10...15 possibilities when you first get started.

You want to get up everyday - and ACTIVELY be looking for the good things that are happening for you.

I know - "Nutster, I don't want to be some Pollyanna." I hear you. Of course, my first response that I want to say is, "Uh.....why?" but I'll refrain. If you don't want to be Pollyanna, you won't. The HappyUP!!! will not eradicate your inner cynic/critic. He/she is much too powerful.....at least for now.

HappyUP!!! Day 691

Here's another view - of "Happy" as he gets in the season and starts to think about going Xmas shopping....

....and, believe it or not, - he actually looks happy about it!.....and he is a guy!

HappyUP!!! - golf
Why it happened - the rain stopped
Why it makes me happy - I didn't play yesterday...or Monday....or Tuesday. It looks like the weather will hold up tomorrow and then steady rain for a week. C'mon...4 days of golf is about the minimum I can survive on and I will barely have gotten that in next week! What will I do next week?....oh....I know....Christmas shop?

HappyUP!!! - day trading
Why it happened - I thought the conditions were right
Why it makes me happy - I really have lost my stomach for the market.....not nerve...more out of disgust for the lack of regulation or enforcement thereof. This morning, with the market heading up, I decided to make a few buys......that I wasn't going to hold for very long. Day trading isn't my thing but it was fun this morning ....and I made some dough!

HappyUP!!! - seeing a friend
Why it happened - my friend stopped by
Why it makes me happy - I ended up doing a small favor when I thought it was going to be a big favor. I would have done the big favor but a small one is easier.

JollyJottings

Day Trading
Seeing a friend
An idea re:HappyUP!!!
Embroidery
Golf

HappyUP!!! Day 690

What do you see off to the left? - it's "Happy,"....the official mascot of Nutter's Notes.

I was doing a little work - on the logo today and thought, "hey, how come I never post this to the website?"

....so there you have it - in subsequent days when I have no picture, look forward to seeing the haberdashery that Happy likes to sport. He has quite the array of headgear.



HappyUP!!! - breakfast with a friend
Why it happened - I was invited
Why it makes me happy - my friend paid! ......OK....that's not the real reason....funny though. You can thank me for giving you a HappyUP!!! on that one. We had an enjoyable discussion about many things.

HappyUP!!! - helping another friend
Why it happened - my friend called me
Why it makes me happy - I am glad that I am in the position to have helped today. I also got to visit with my friend briefly.

HappyUP!!! - rubber boots
Why it happened - I was over near a WalMart running an errand......
Why it makes me happy -....when I said, "I wonder if WalMart would have rubber boots." I popped in.....and in just a few minutes, I owned a pair of rubber boots. This is going to allow me to trudge along out in the garden this winter without bringing too much winter into the house.....or getting any of it on my socks.

JollyJottings

Breakfast
Seeing a friend
Doing a favor for a friend
Rubber boots
Getting something ordered
Stock I bought yesterday
Hearing from my old friend, C

HappyUP!!! Day 689

HappyUP!!! - golf invitation
Why it happened - the assistant pro called me
Why it makes me happy - it was a little cold today...I wasn't thinking about playing golf....didn't have a game set up with anyone. THEN, I got a phone call from our assistant pro that there was a big game going on in half an hour........talk about fast movement!....and HappyingUP!!! all the way to the course

HappyUP!!! - pairing in the golf game
Why it happened - we had two groups...somebody had to play with somebody
Why it makes me happy - I got a chance to play with E. I had never played with him. He just got back from tour qualifying. No, he didn't get his touring card but he played OK. He was hanging around fourth place after day 1. I also played with V....a guy that plays in some mini-tour type events. I can't say it raised my game today but it was great to watch some guys make it look easy.

HappyUP!!! - coffee with my friend
Why it happened - it's a weekly appointment
Why it makes me happy - we had a good chat today.....just getting caught up. I also ran into three other guys that I don't see nearly enough and got to spend time with them. Fellowship is always a HappyUP!!!

JollyJottings

Coffee
Flop practice
Pairing with pros
Hybrid chip on 1.....bunker shot on 4.....driver/3wood/wedge on 5....chip on 11...putt on 12....4 iron on 13 ...8 iron on 16....3 wood on 17......4 iron on 18
Golf invitation
E-mail from A
Productivity eZine

HappyUP!!! Day 688

HappyUP!!! - phone calls from ex-employees
Why it happened - they were thinking of me
Why it makes me happy - I always love hearing from my old work chums

HappyUP!!! - Toastmasters
Why it happened - it was an on week
Why it makes me happy - we had a guest return....two great speeches....people filling in for people that weren't there....no issues.....and a decision that we would all have breakfast next week

HappyUP!!! - being IN when it was cold and rainy OUT
Why it happened - I'm retired
Why it makes me happy - I had memories today...and yesterday...of dragging my fanny to the office on terrible weather days. Umbrellas....fighting trenchcoats.....being wet.........it was no trip down memory lane but a tremendous appreciation for being at home.

JollyJottings

Toastmasters
Talking with P
Talking with N
Looking out at a cold, rainy morning
Leaves...again
Financial advisor
Conf Call
TJ's vegetable stock

HappyUP!!! Day 687

HappyUP!!! - raking
Why it happened - I took action
Why it makes me happy - I love that my city comes around and picks up the leaves. On Saturday, knowing that dried leaves are easier to rake than wet ones, I raked and piled my leaves out front even though I knew rain was going to knock a whole bunch more down the next day. This morning, my lawn was covered with leaves again...but the pile I had made Sat was gone. I then noticed the city had created a staging area dumping all the collected leaves down the street. I quickly made another pile...the guy in the tractor came and scooped them up. Then, I looked at my neighbor's yard and made another pass on my yard. I made another pile and went to breakfast. When I came home, the third pile of leaves I had made was gone. These leaves would have been hanging around for a week....blowing all over the place. They came down...I shipped them out for the city to make compost out of them. I got some exercise and felt super efficient.

HappyUP!!! - golf tip
Why it happened - I was watching the Golf Channel
Why it makes me happy - I have been working on my flop shot.....and I got a great tip tonight. I went out in the dark and tried it out......WOW! I can't wait to do some work on it this week.

HappyUP!!! - Getting Things Done
Why it happened - I opened an old book by the title above
Why it makes me happy - I have gotten a little behind on some things that I need to do. I got some great ideas as I revisited this tome. I have a couple of weeks to bring the year to a good close. WHEN I make progress on a bunch of projects, I am going to feel really good about 2008 and have a headstart on 2009.

JollyJottings

Breakfast
Getting Things Done
Enjoying the rain
Raking

HappyUP!!! Day 686

HappyUP!!! - water shots
Why it makes me happy - they were funny...both of them
Why it makes me happy - hey, sometimes comedy is enough for a HappyUP!!!...especially when a golfer goes into the water.......TWICE...in the same round. I've never seen that. This is my golf buddy, R, gouging it out of the duck soup on 18. His first attempt on 9 was funnier.

HappyUP!!! - finishing golf
Why it happened - we perservered
Why it makes me happy - wet...wind...cold...NOT my idea of a good time. But, don't you feel great when you come in, peel off the wet clothes, warming up and drying off? It's an incredible feeling...you know what I am talking about.


HappyUP!!! - my hybrid into 18
Why it happened - I put a can of concentration into it
Why it makes me happy - the weather had long before ballooned the score. I was ready to pack it in after 9 but the weather seemed to have broken......for about 3 holes. I had nothing going for me after hitting a crappy drive on 18 after my hand slipped off the club. Usually, I would be hitting a 7 iron to a 9 iron into the last hole. Now, I had a hybrid....from the left rough.....all carry over water. I caught that thing right on the button, it soared up to the right, banked back to the left with a draw, and left me with a 25 foot birdie putt back down the hill. Nope...didn't make it. The HappyUP!!! was just having the opportunity!

JollyJottings

Hybrid into 18
Chip on 2
Bunker shot on 4
9 iron into 6
Pitch on 7
Hybrid from bunker on 9
6 iron into 10
5 iron into 11
Hybrid on 12
Getting back home
Breakfast
The return of the Boz
Pictures

HappyUP!!! Day 685

HappyUP!!! - 36 holes of golf
Why it happened - I take advantage of my golf club
Why it makes me happy - it's good to take an 18 hole walk with 30 pounds on my back....and ride 18 in the afternoon.

HappyUP!!! - playing with new guys
Why it happened - a big game got organized in the afternoon
Why it makes me happy - I met two nice guys who have some game at the club. The more people you know, the more games you end up with. Pleasant company with decent players makes the golf more enjoyable

HappyUP!!! - a skin in the morning big game
Why it happened - I hit a great 7 iron and a better curling putt
Why it makes me happy - I got one of the 5 skins and pocketed a couple of bucks!

JollyJottings

Birdie and a skin
French fries
Great weather
Great second shot on 17
Shots...bunker on 2...8 iron on 3....9 iron on 6...bunker on 7....9 iron on 8...drive on 10...wedge on 10.... drive on 12....flop shot on 12...8 iron on 13....4 iron on 14...7 iron on 16...putt on 16....7 iron on 17...drive on 1...wedge on 2....4 iron on 3...8 iron on 4...drive on 6....drive on 9...9 iron on 10...8 iron on 11...wedge on 12...5 iron on 12 ...hybrid on 14...drive on 15...3 wood on 15....drive on 18...flop on 18
36 holes of golf

HappyUP!!! Day 684

HappyUP!!! - golf MATCH
Why it happened - my buddy, R, and I were shot for shot
Why it makes me happy - R is better than I am. He didn't play well today...but he didn't play terribly either. I didn't play bad...but I couldn't call it great. There we stood on the 17th tee...with the same score. We both missed birdie putts on 17. On to the 18th, all square. On the final green, R misses a 30 footer for birdie...there I am with a 10 footer with a foot or two of break to win. I hit a good putt......that didn't go in. It was a match that should have finished all square.

HappyUP!!! - breakfast
Why it happened - I needed some brekko
Why it makes me happy - I love those pancakes and sausage. I also had a great exchange with my friend at the restaurant. It's a benefit of being a regular.

HappyUP!!! - invitation for "a game" tomorrow
Why it happened - my partner and I are getting a name for ourselves
Why it makes me happy - it's the assistant pro that asked us if we wanted to play. We had played with two of his buddies...plus, we played in scratch league. We are getting a rep as good guys to play with. Tomorrow, after we play 18 early, we'll be teeing it up in a bigger game around noon. Yes...8 hours + straight...of golfing...tomorrow. Make sure you pray for my endurance! Hey...I'm not a kid anymore

JollyJottings

Breakfast
Gorgeous Day for golf
Meeting new guys
Playing my buddy, R, straight up
Invited to play in a game 2morrow
5 iron on 2
Wedge/putt on 4
8 iron to 6
Putt on 8
9 iron out of divot
7 iron into 13
wedge into 15
6 iron into 17
drive and 8 iron into 18

HappyUP!!! Day 683

HappyUP!!! - golf cancelled for the weekend
Why it happened - a lack of interest
Why it makes me happy -...what? Did I say I was happy because golf was cancelled? It's not what you think. The tournament I was going to play in was cancelled due to a thin field. After a moment of disappointment, I quickly said, "you know, my game is not where it needs to be at the moment. They'll hold this same tourney next month.....I'll play then." Oh...don't worry....there will be regular golf this weekend.

HappyUP!!! - reunion
Why it happened - one of my friends is thoughtful
Why it makes me happy - appetizers and drinks with two of my old co-workers....one that I haven't seen in forever. I don't need to go into much detail on that, do I?

HappyUP!!! - double kitties
Why it happened - I found the other one
Why it makes me happy - I mentioned that I let one of the outside cats in the other night. Last night, both of them got to come in......and they were both PLANTED on that bed last night....on a cold night. Very warming in literal and figurative ways.

JollyJottings

Golf cancelled
Finding Verizon
Reading
Two kitty night
Outback meeting
Jeweler find