The first "free" weekend....

Right off the bat, getting laid off from work Friday came as a real surprise. As management I've always believed that if you didn't see such a shocker coming, it was your own damn fault! So I'm going to sit back and reflect on the situation, using all of the analytical skills I've acquired over the years. I need to see how this move could possibly make any sense at all, for a company that I've made an awful lot of cash for over the last several years. Right now the answer is simple, it just DOESN'T make any!

Maintaining my classic half full glass how ever, Peb's and I had one hell of a good weekend!

We went for comfort food and a warm comfortable fire out back, as the perfect way to start the first of what may be a few "free" weekends.


Have you ever had a Spider Dog?

If not, take your kids out to the fire and make a few up. You won't regret it!

The meat in the sandwich that was this weekend, was great times with good friends and family. We got a few odd jobs done and relaxed with a few too many cold beers and colder Scotches. Having so many friends stop by just to get together and talk about nothing, helps to make everything come into perspective every time.

We capped off a great weekend with my Peb's getting a little something exciting between her legs.

EASY there kiddies!

I meant a nice ride out back.


Hard not to love that smile huh?

My sincerest thanks for dropping by....

Frantic Friday: It's no shot of SoCo, BUTT Edition....(NSFW)

Whenever birthday's roll around, I think I usually nail the correct :


down immediately. Well at least for my friends and family.

As an example if it was The Wife's special day of the year, I'm sure it'd be a no-brainer to pick her up some :


Then there's someone like Astin, who we all know as one of the great :


in the land of :


I'd bet that most of you out there would try and grab him something useful in the Kitchen. BIG MISTAKE! Having been there myself, I'd have to refrain from any gadgetry related to cooking! I think he actually has everything.

Like EVERYTHING!

Actually come to think of it. This is pretty much Astin Birthday time of the year anywho, isn't it? I think I'll take a look at something he could really use. I'll try and see if I can find my buddy just the right :


Oh make no mistake!

It's not that his place needs to be tidied up a whole whack or anything! Remember I did say, "just the right" one didn't I!

Actually, I do know my man's real weakness and I think I'd have to exploit that to get just the right thing for his present.

Lord knows he loves to cook with AND eat :


WHO WOULDN'T!

Well a little birdie also tells me, that some Hippie is getting a little bit older by the minute these days too. Naturally if I was anywhere around the old fart, I'd buy him a celebratory shot of his go-go juice with a water back. Hell, maybe even two!

But since I'm not hanging around the bum, the least I can do I figure is plaster this little corner of the intertubles with a bit of AlCantHang Happy Birthday presence. (see what I did there!)

So anyone that knows our Al surely knows of his weakness, (that he calls a "fondness" by the way!) for those :


Can't say I blame my little buddy either!

Lord knows that the curvy :


have always been able to captivate me as well.

In fact when they combine the curves, the Canadian factor and the fact that they're a sensually thrilling :



just like my girl :


it's damn near enough to drive a kid to distraction!

For those not familiar with this redheaded Canadian sweetheart, a not so subtle gallery featuring her many assets can be found for your pleasure here.

When it comes to Al's taste, I'm pretty sure that the old school :


will be right up our boy's alley. (or have I got that back-ass-wards?)

Whatever! Just in case you're not certain, here's a few other NSFW shots if you so desire, just to make sure and all.

Although not always appearing as a :


but usually more like the innocent red'ish haired cutie seen here,


one of my personal favorites out there, is Ana. As a smoking hawt Strawberry Blonde Ana, can always bring a smile to my face.

Yeah........ uh-huh, I know.

Hopefully these few shots make up for the lack of actual "shots" my friend. Now get back to your favorite hobby of hunting :


that for once in your life young man, ARE NOT :


Not that there's anything wrong with that!

Get out there Al and find that :


Because one things for certain you ain't gonna' find her here and most definitely, you ain't gonna' find her while you're googling :


for your weekly BadBlood butt bonus™ pictures.

Talk about :


I mean, sheeeesh!

Makes my butt clench :


just thinking about it.

Well that's going to have to do for now, at least until we meet up in Vegas and I get to buy those drinks I'd mentioned. Hopefully everyone celebrating a birthday around this time of year, is, will or did have a great one! A couple of my closest friends got together and made a pretty special sign for you all.



Remember everyone :



Yes :


can help offset the differance between when you're being :


and when you're just being a big old cuddly :



My sincerest thanks for dropping by....

Live blogging my email....

Against my better judgement I went and listened to and even took the advice of, a friend of mine. I sent myself an e-mail into the future and as I'm very prone to do, I forgot all about it. Sorry kids but at 1,000,047, you'll just have to cut me a little slack for that!

Now... what the hell was I saying?

Oh ya the letter from "the old" me, right!

Apparently I figured that this had to be so priceless that before opening the whole thing, I told myself to live blog it with you. So here goes what will more than likely amount to....... well.... absolutely nothing!

We'll be flipping in and out a little, as for some donkified reason around these parts, people actually expect legit amounts of work to get done throughout the day. Bizarre I know!

12:30pm. Wed. Sept. 23, 2009

*email

To : bam-bam
From : yourself!
Sent : Sept. 16, 2008

Hey Idiot!

Did you remember that you sent this thing? I didn't think so. I'm pretty sure that I actually forgot all about it a mere week or so after clicking send. No matter, just remember that you promised me that you'd live blog it when it did come!

= = = = = = =
*LIVE

Spooky and un-canny how little I've changed in a year! Hell for that matter, in the last 20 or so years to be honest! The memory is quite possibly even worse than first thought too! I can't for the life of me recall why I wanted this live blogged. Oh well.... onwards and downwards!

= = = = = = =
*email

So when I sat down to do this thing that Otis did, all I had was a few random questions I wanted to ask you in a year or so. You probably wouldn't believe how long I struggled to get the right questions and pick the right return date.

Aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh........... I know. I knew that would jog the nut in your squash a little. The return date! Sept. 23, 2009, one short week after your daughters 19th. birthday. I gave you the extra time to get through the moment remember?

So how is it?

What's it like having a person that can vote, drink and do damn near anything else she wants to do for a daughter?

= = = = = = =
*LIVE

The recollection of sitting down to write this thing, really started to flow as I re-read that first question. My not-so-mini-peb's had turned 18 the day before I'd sent this. Despite the enormity of the number 18 being associated with my daughter, I sat up that night wondering what another year would bring. A year in which her nation would count on her to make a difference with her vote. A year in which we could very well find ourselves parked at the same bar down the road, but with entirely different people and plans. A year in which quite frankly, (and supposed to be secretly until this!) I'd hoped that time would slow right to a crawl. Like most Father's I guess, I designated the year 19 to adulthood and total self reliance. I mean if the government sees my baby as an adult, how could I or who am I to stop the cog that turns the wheels of life?

The answer is I'm no one!

Well except for the Father of the daughter that will always remain, her Daddy's little girl.

= = = = = =
*email

Did you cry when you answered that?

I knew it! She always could get to you.

Next question. I've been fixated on the lack of 9/11 anything going on this year. It's like everyone has moved on and put it out of their minds. Right now I attribute this to the pain and shock factor involved. It was so terrifying and carried such tremendous pain and sorrow for everyone involved, the faster it can be left behind the better. Did you go to the cemetery again this year? Never mind! Stupid question I know! I hope you said hi for me.

= = = = = =
*LIVE 1:15 pm.

Unfortunately not much has changed this year. The memory of lost friends, loved ones and hundreds of innocent bystanders and rescue workers, seems to have been back-burnered by the vast majority.

And yes that was a pretty stupid question. Of course I said hi for you, in our own unique little way! There weren't as many around the monument this year. I hope it was just my timing. I'd hate to think everyone was too busy to take the time to stop by and say hi as well.

= = = = = =
*email

How are you and Peb's making out? I know you've been worrying ever since she lost her job. Worrying about her mostly. Hoping she'd find something that would make her happy, knowing she'd be watching and worrying over every aspect of life's little budget plans for us. How are you holding up after a year of it buddy?

= = = = = =
*LIVE

Actually, things are not exactly perfect but you want to know something? Things are pretty damn good, compared to what can be seen happening to others. First off, Peb's is on her second job since the ordeal. She comes home happy and smiling and that of course, makes me all warm and fuzzy inside. The books are what they are. Things may never get back to the significant amounts of black that was showing on our budget of 2006. So what?

Yes we watch more carefully now and are conscious of our purchases as we go along, who doesn't? We are not stuck head's in the bank books, like some miserly Ostrich accountants. We just use more common sense and less wimsey as we go.

My glass is and shall always remain, 1/2 full my friend.

= = = = = =
*email

Last one.

I don't think I'm going to Vegas this year and it really sucks. Are you going to make it?

= = = = = =
*LIVE

OH yes my man, I most certainly am!

= = = = = =
*email

Really sorry about the "idiot" thing to start. It's been a rough year and looking forward, it looks like an awful long road to hoe as well. You know, Fred's had some issues and I'm really worried about him. And Wilma and Peb's of course! It's going to be one hell of a test of this families abilities to cope, as we all go through this together. But in my heart of hearts I know that that's exactly what is going to happen. This families bond is the single most miraculous thing I have ever experienced in my life. Here's hoping Fred is still around to get a little chuckle out of something stupid you say or do today!

Take care of you, 'cause I care about you.

Bammer

= = = = = =
*LIVE 1:40 pm.

It was a challenging year for certain. I don't think I'd go all the way to tuff though. Support from family and friends makes everything easier than it should be and trust me when I tell you, I really do run like a god in the friends and family department.

Fred is and will continue to battle the ugly "C" word. Three more "somethings" have been found on his Liver and so now, we start the process all over again. For the fourth time. Once again with no shadow of a doubt, I expect this family will come out of it 100% in tact and stronger than we were going in.

That's just how they've taught me to roll.

My sincerest thanks for dropping by....

Which switch is which....

Up late/early seemed to run a little rampant last evening, as I quite pleasently ran into CK in the chat this morning. Which was very, VERY am. for her out West. She was juiced up about a Poker session last night and had the mile a minute mind machine, throwing thoughts around in her head. I could sympathize, although in an "I'd already gotten a little sleep last night" way of course.

The mental machine ran well into the night for me as well, after I ran into a situation I'm not quite sure I ever want to go through again. First things first however, I do love me some HORSE! So the game was NOT the issue. I sat down to two games like I've been trying to do more of and settled in to what I thought was going to be some easy additions to the bankroll. Two 16 player events, paying out the top four in each. I've been cashing in these steadily and honestly, I'd seen no reason to worry about doing it again in either of these. It's not arrogance..... it's confidence! (that's my story and I'm sticking to it!)

In every single one of these games there are the same basic cast of characters. The rocks, the LAG's, the clueless, the sharks and.... almost always the one NLHE junky, looking for a fix to his funk. You wind your way through the field, careful to avoid the mines along the way. Weeding out the dead wood and culling the weak at every opportunity. Simple really. I mentioned to CK however that last night I was thrown a huge curve ball.

In one of the games with a screen shot of a table open sat the rocks, the sharks and almost every blue chip HORSIE I had any respectable amount of notes on. In the other open screen for the second game, there sat the LAG's, clueless and at least four hold'em junkies that I had quite a fair bit of information about.

The two games were diametrically opposed.

Facts about both games:

One orbit at the table we'll call #2, saw a minimum of three limpers and a raise/re-raise in every single hand. Then the hands went to the river 71% of the time at least. One orbit at what we'll call the solid table #1, saw exactly one flop. The action was over after the turn.

One orbit at table #1 was equal to 2.25 orbits at table #2

The first player was out at table #2 in a mere two hands.
The first player was out at table #1 in a mere hour.

Bust down to final table at table #2, occurred in 47.5 minutes.
I made final table at table #1, about an hour and 10 minutes later than that.

Hands in the lead that came out losers at table #2 = SEVEN.
Hands in the lead that came out losers at table #1 = One.

Hands played at table #2 = Twenty Eight.
Hands played at table #1 = Twelve.

Hands won at table #2 = Eighteen
Hands won at table #1 = Eleven

Average pot size won at table #2 = 2600 chips.
Average pot size won at table #1 = 2100 chips.

I bubbled the money at table #2 when during O/8, I couldn't get there with 12 outs twice and a huge pot in the middle. I know I could have picked a better spot for sure, but the lure of playing for the win right there and then, was obviously way too much for me at the time. With that play leaving me drastically short on chips, I was forced to jam the next "best looking" hand I got dealt. That Ad-Ac-2d-4c, obviously was no match for the 7h-8s-8d-8h. Even with the Ace of hearts coming for me, right out the door. all the other hearts in the deck couldn't quite get out of there fast enough, and IGHN.

I cashed for a third place finish in the other game, getting two very solid hands paid off by the eventual fifth and sixth place finishers. In each case they were in the same spot as me in the earlier game. Not quite as draw heavy as I was mind you, but in deep enough to change the flow of the game for them, should they have won those hands. In my bust out hand in RAZZ, my A-3 buried and door card 4 improved to A-3-4-6. I was up against a 5-9 showing. With three to come I made my move and got the call I wanted. When I saw he held A-3-5-9 at the flip, I have to admit I'd felt pretty good about the play. When I hit the 5 on sixth I was positively giddy. Then the stack of chips was pushed his way and the congratulations message popped up on my monitor. Yes in case you're wondering at home, I did say WTF? out loud. His 6th. street deuce and 7th. street 4, kicked my lilly, (NOT Little) white azz off the table. At least he gave me a GG in the chat!

But that's just the rundown. The actual facts of these two games was far more important. It was feckin' exhausting! I was more mentally spent from switching my mindset and actually paying attention between the two completely contrasting styles of play, than most anything actual work can do to my head. Drooling at the opportunity to take the stack off a newbie on one hand, then struggling to let go of descent holdings at the other table, despite the fact that I knew I had to be beat. Winding the range of hands to play up to damn near ATC, (or three or four) at the one table, all the while zoning in on only the perfectly disguised hands of death, over at the rock.

Hours of "enjoyment" turned my brain into mush by the end of the night. Where eventually I lay awake playing the vast majority of the hands I did play, over and over and over again.

Normally I have what I call, "a switch." I don't sleep that long or that often but when I do need to, I have mostly always known when it's time to throw the switch. I try to just collapse, shut down and close the eyes with the switch. All things should eventually go quiet. Not after those two games however. No tossing, no turning. Just two eyes and a brain refusing to not only throw that damn switch, but to even remotely acknowledge it's existence!

My sincerest thanks for dropping by....

Just for the fun of it....

Can someone please make that thingy =======>

go faster?

I don't really know what it is. Maybe the lack of a real Summer with weather befitting the season, or perhaps it's the frost we've awoken to on several ridiculously cold mornings in mid-September. Whatever the case may be, I do recognize that the Fall doldrums have locked onto my soul and just won't let go. They've got me like Drizz clutching his Cap'n Coke, or the way that a PaiGow table can create that hold on Otis and BadBlood.

Yeah, it's really that bad!

Although I surely know that I'll be right back up to snuff come December 10th. and the start of the WPBT gathering, I seriously hope it doesn't take that long to swing back around for me! (By the way for those asking, Bally's was the spot that wanted to take the best crack at getting their money back from me. So that's where you'll find Peb's and I for a couple of hours or so over the WPBT get together this year.)

It sure seems that I've got these doldrums pretty bad and to me, that's a bit depressing. Specially considering that for all of the 1,000,047 years up until this particular morning, this kid didn't even know how to spell doldrums let alone put up with their shit!

= = = = = =

Oh and since this is supposed to occasionally resemble a Poker blog of sorts, blah....blah....blah....won my last two games played, blah.... where good hands actually held on. blah.... and won a game before that, blah.... blah.... when my shorty move with pocket Queens, mysteriously managed to crack both the Cowboy's and Bullets I naturally threw'em all-in-pre against. blah....blah.... actually had a pretty good run of late, blah....blah....blah.... sitting on a six straight win session, with a very hard to believe nine out of the last ten sending cashies in my general direction. All the while providing minuscule support to the old NLHE joke of a bankroll blah....blah.... of course, blah....blah....blah.... that's all happening at just one of the many available donation stations called, blah....blah.... on-line "Poker" blah.... blah....blah. All things are still good in the World of course, over at the house that the Lederer built. blah....blah....blah.... where I continue to run like the Dog that found the full ex-lax package on the floor. blah....blah....blah.... So to me at one of the little pay-as-you-play on-line "Poker" rooms around town, it's all still a joke. blah.... blah.... Oh well, at least there's some damn good stuff to read over there I guess!

blah....blah.... But over at 'the other' room of doom where I hope you are also enjoying some good reads, blah....blah.... it seems like maybe there could be hope for me in NLHE afterall. blah....blah....blah.... I know, I know! blah.... blah.... you just had liquid of some sort, blah....blah....blah.... come rocketing out of your nose.

On the pimpage front, I heard rumours of a new game in town on Friday Nights. Something about a rotating format game, that would be a $1 rebuy along the lines of the now infamous and sorely missed NLHE Donkament. I heard you could check it out HERE. I never actually go there personally though, the guy never writes! ;)

My sincerest thanks for dropping by....

Some sick Truckin'....

I.HATE.BEING.SICK!

At least I have this months Truckin' to help me get through it.

= = = = = =

September 2009, Vol. 8, Issue 9

Welcome back to the September issue of Truckin'.

1. Tangerine Rockets by Paul McGuire
Lennie was an international legend. His father walked away from a plane crash and passed along some of those good luck genes over to Lennie.... More

2. The Red Pill by Sigge S. Amdal
She dropped the face and began to cry, as tensions rose around me. The waiters stopped waiting tables, people stopped talking; they were just exchanging knowing glances and judgmental comments... More

3. Fine Tuning by Milton T. Burton
He looked perplexed. I slipped my hand beneath my coat, came out with the little silenced .22 Magnum auto, and shot him right in the center of the forehead. The hollow-point bullet exited the back of his skull, making a colorful little jet of blood and brains as it went... More

4. On Scoring by Human Head
One look at the eyeliner, eyebrows, gold hoops and herringbone chains, and I knew this was the Angel we were supposed to see. As she drew closer to the door, the tattoo's left little doubt. She didn't say anything. She just looked at me... More

5. The Joys of Gambling by Johnny Hughes
Saratoga Springs, New York in August was the gambling capital of America in the 1920s, with the horses, the spa waters, large and ornate casinos, and America's wealthiest citizens in a gilded age, when money and wine were treated like water... More


What a Long Strange Trip It's Been...
From the Editor's Laptop:

The September edition of Truckin' marks the return of the Human Head after a four year hiatus. I'm enthralled to have him back in the mix. Everyone's favorite Norwegian word wanker, Sigge, returns for a second month in a row. We also have a couple of Texan scribes in Johnny Hughes and Milton T. Burton. And of course, I have a story inspired by a recent trip to Colorado.

Thanks for telling your friends about Truckin'. May you will increase your karma ten fold! The contibutors here write for free and you'll be doing me a huge favor by helping get the some publicity.

If anyone is interested in being added to the mailing list, or perhaps you are interested in writing for a future issue, then feel free to contact me.

I have to sincerely thank the writers for sharing their bloodwork. Thanks for taking this leap of faith with me. And a special thanks goes out to you, the reader, for your loyalty and support over the years.

Be good,
McG

= = = = = =

My sincerest thanks for dropping by....

Happy Birthday Baby....

Happy 19th. Not-So-Mini-Pebs.

WOW.... your old man's getting the "old" part down pat!

:)

My sincerest thanks for dropping by....

The best defense....

Apparently there's someone out there, that DOES NOT have a single effin' clue about who I am, or what it is that makes me tick. Basically.... an IDIOT!

This jackazz is trying to blackmail with some bullshit information, all about how The Wife and I are an item or something. What a joke!

Dude, The Wife and I knew each other looooong before DrChacko was ever in the picture and I can tell you one thing for certain. DrChako is very aware of this and knows every little secret that there could ever have been between the two of us.

But since you're so sure of your extortionist ways, here's a little something to squash your idiotic little plan like the tiny little pest that it really is.

Remember this is all Pre-Doc & Peb's but way back in the day, The Wife and I used to bust a few moves and dance like no one was watching.

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!


Ah, those were the days!

:)

My sincerest thanks for dropping by....

A Labour of Love....

Right off the bat let me tell you, Bedrock does NOT see many September 5th., 6th. & 7th. weekends like this past one!


I have no idea why the weather is so damned screwed up but thankfully, we didn't miss July all together. It just took until September to get here I guess.

This Labour Day weekend was full of so many things that I really love to do.

Friday: I took some time off work to hang around with my boy's, DonKaaa and brudder CC at the Golf course. Together we played 27 holes, before brudder CC had to make a dash for the highway and get up even further North. DonKaaa and I just didn't want to quit, so we called the girls and got them to come out for an additional 18 holes. Golfing with Peb's and Queen_Kaaa, helped make it a really wonderful start to the weekend.

Saturday: One of my favorite things on this big ol' flying rock of ours, is getting the opportunity to help out our neighbours down the road at Bear Creek Wildlife Sanctuary. On Saturday I made plans to run over all of the leftover building supplies from the back deck. I topped that load up with a bunch of framing 2 x 4's that I knew would come in handy for many of their varied structure and habitat plans on the go. So many people think that food and water is all that it takes to keep these animals alive. Hardly anyone takes the time to consider the atmosphere of the surroundings and what it means to a captive animals quality of life! Mary and Warner do though and that means building supplies can make a pretty big difference when they are made available.

There's also the physical needs of the animals, as 'play' and 'hunting' techniques need to be taught to the young as well. I think that this is where Mary feels I can be of the most assistance to her program! It seems my role as 'prey,' just isn't duplicated by anyone else that's happened to come along. It's a job I take very seriously and also a great deal of pride in! I have been 'mauled' by Lions, Tigers, Cougars, Lynx and Jaguars over the years and you know what? I've considered myself incredibly fortunate to have been so! So this Saturday my job was to help teach a couple of 3 month old Jaguars, the play that leads to going for the kill! Not-so-mini-Peb's came along for this trip and based on this sequence of shots she took, I'd say my lessons were really sinking in for this little fellow wouldn't you?


OK kids, pay attention!


I am made of meat and fatty tissue and just like the food you should be hunting, there are bones inside me too.


"Watch me go Sis!"


Teeth, check! Claws, check!

***NOTE***
I like to have a lot of fun with this obviously, but as you can see by the "tools of the trade" that this little bugger is about to unleash on me, this type of work is really not for the faint of heart!

Also as a bit of a gentle reminder of how a three month old Jaguar is muscularly better developed and so very much stronger than most 15 & 16 year old boys,


the going for the jugular lesson needs to be thrown in there as well, BY MY STUDENT!

Peb's and I normally host a charity Poker Tourney for Bear Creek every Summer, but things got a little out of hand for us as time went on, and we never quite got around to it. That is going to change next year! With all of the habitat building and the seemingly non-stop supply of un-wanted and left for dead animals being taken in by them from private sources and Zoos alike, these folks could really use the help. As an example of the extreme costs that are involved and required to be made up in a totally non-profit manner, think of the Veterinarian bills alone if you can! These are not Poodles and Tabbies that need to be nursed back to health when they arrive and YES! Almost every animal that they have taken in and provided a home to as an alternative to death, has started out requiring some very serious medical help right off the bat. Some to the point that you'd probably be ashamed to be called a human being, after seeing what someone could do to an unsuspecting animal.

I get asked all the time what people can do to help and honestly, it's as simple as a small donation. Here's a link that get's you to a page where you can do what you want to help them out. As someone who has seen first hand the love and care that these folks put into everything they do, trust me when I say that every single penny is put back into the health, happiness and well being of every animal on the property. Do what you can and if you get the chance, spread the word as well! The more the merrier I always say. As you will see on the donations page, options include all major credit cards and PayPal. Tell'em Bam-Bam sent you!

Sunday: Peb's and I played another 18 holes in some spectacular September weather, with DonKaaa and the lovely Queen_K. My Game went for a dump and it felt like I'd never held a club in my hands before, but man the company was awful nice!

Monday: I always thought Labour Day, was meant to be celebrated by a lack thereof. You know! Lay around and do nothing even remotely close to actual 'Labor.' Apparently I got my signals crossed!

Peb's had me helping her clean out the barn, getting the Truck fired up/cleaned up and then stored away for the Winter. She busted my azz for most of the morning! :)

The afternoon was spent watching a rather creative new neighbour, come up with a strategy for combatting the weeds overtaking his little pond.


I have no idea what the fish in his pond thought of all the commotion but as a spectator along the sidelines, it sure was a lot of fun to watch!


Particularily just before this point, where one of the "weed whackers" who'd suddenly discovered that there was an 8 foot deep part of that "little" pond, needed a little help getting back on solid ground.

Good times!

My sincerest thanks for dropping by....

GOLF.... finally....

It's been such a crappy Summer weather wise around these parts, that yesterday was one of the first actual rounds of Golf that Peb's and I have had together this year. Just sick! Typically by now, we're winding down the season and reflecting back on the hundreds and hundreds of holes we've played together. It's just seems like it's been either cold, wet or both, every time we've tried to plan a game. Oh and for the record just to let you know exactly how bad it's been, we're not what one would call "fair weather Golfers" either! It's just been craptastic!

With the trend to slightly warmer temperatures and a promise of some kind of burning ball of light up in the sky, we headed out to play the new Island holes at the course. Lucky for me brudder CC was still making his way home from a road trip! That meant I had my two lovelies all to myself, as Gueber would be joining in on the fun. The girls were pretty happy to see each other, as you can maybe tell from this shot!


We get asked all the time how Gueber got her name and I always say the same thing. It's derived from the Dominican slang, 'Mama Guebo' and if you're really industrious and look it up, you'll see that Brudder CC always has that smile on his face for a reason. ;)

Anywho....

The new 9 is a mixed bag of design creativity utilizing existing properties and in many respects, maintaining the lay of the land. There's also been a few holes dug here and a few mounds put there, just to shape the landscape enough to give that famous Bear Creek simplistic appearance. That's the real hidden gem of our "little" course, it always plays so very easy on paper! The design secret to the course is simple, make the appearance of the shot needed and the actual shot needed, two completely separate entities. As an example, here's a look from the tee blocks on the new #4.


Looks simple enough if you ask me and actually except for the tree lined fairway, it must be a pretty simple and straight away hole. Game plan should be to hit the straight to slightly cutting, (left to right for a righty) 4 iron maybe and then set yourself up for the easy 9 iron or maybe an 8, approach shot. With the hole only measuring 370 YDS from the tips, that plan should get us a real crack at birdie! Like I said, simple! Problem is, your eye can't pick up the subtle difference in elevation along that 370 yards. You hit that perfect 4 iron and watch it stop out in the center of the fairway, pleased with your self control for leaving that Driver in the bag. You arrive at what you thought was a tremendous shot, only to find you still somehow have about 185 YDS into a smallish green that is also protected by water left and fescue right. Oh and by the way, this is where the designer informs the Golfer of just how far uphill the hole is playing. It's at the approach shot that you start to realize that the type, size and even shape of the trees lining the fairway combined with the rolling mounds along the way, have created an optical illusion of a flat to even downhill appearance all along. It's really brilliance of design in my book.

Now none of this design means squadoosh to the Daly'Esque Peb's of course! When she's got the parts to use the 'forward' blocks and with the fine folks at 'The Bear' loving to take care of their ladies, giving her a straight away uphill 300 yard shot means,


this hole was built for her powerful little cut from left to right and almost everytime that she plays this hole, she'll end up somewhere around here,


With some little 25 ~ 35 YD chip. SICK!

Gueber asked me to help her learn the game about 6 or so years ago. After last night I have to say, she's definitely one of the most improved Golfers I've ever seen! Gueb's lacks Peb's raw power and clubhead speed but what she does have that Peb's doesn't is, the ability to hit a consistant draw with almost any club.


That little draw gets Gueber a lot more distance than her clubhead speed should be generating. She hit it great all night and has made me so very proud as well, by becoming a real student of the game. In fact on the PAR 3 sixth hole seen here,


Gueber kicked our azzes in the closest to the pin contest for drinks!


That's Peb's and I playing perfectly good cart Golf over to the left there, while Gueber damn near jarred it for the Ace. Would've been her second one too! not bad for a six year Golfer huh? It was actually a bit of a pre-round joke that Gueber would get another one, as peb's and I were there for her first one. Also during a game that brudder CC couldn't make it out to.

When I first saw the plans for the island green I was thrilled. It looked just like the 17th. hole at TPC Sawgrass. One of the most famous holes in all of golf. Thinking that I'd get a chance to play it every day that I could, made this kid pretty damn happy! Then I actually got to the hole itself.

Dissapointed....... HELL's NO!

Take a look at this 162 yards of all carry and it better bite with not too much spin, whole lot of Golfing goodness!


To make the hole even more interesting, there's only two types of wind that blow around these parts. The first is the normal prevailing Northwesterly breeze that will blow directly from the tee to the green. Then there's the "other" wind! It's the monster that can howl in exactly the opposite direction and make Golf at The Bear, feel an awful lot more like a Brittish Open climate. I had that wind Friday morning when I took Fred and a few of his buddies, out to play the new course. After watching two 70 year olds that can still drive the ball 200+ yards come up short with those same drivers, I hauled out the trusty 5 wood and put my ball on a collision course with the pin. I never took my eyes off the ball, as I was sure I was about to become the first player with a hole in one on this hole. Instead I watched my ball drop directly into the enbankment at the front of the green. Last night we had the normal prevailing breeze to play with. I stuck a smooth 8 Iron on the front of the green. For those keeping score at home, that's a seven club swing for the same hole. I can see that number getting even bigger as well, depending on the direction and speed of those two winds.

I'm heading back out to play this afternoon with DonKaaa and brudder CC. After last nights modest game of +3 seemed to come so easy, I think there's a number with a negative sign in front of it coming out of my game today!

Be the ball Bam-Bam, be the ball.

My sincerest thanks for dropping by....

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