Summer Thunder....

Now here's another little thing about summertime in my part of the world, the thunder-showers we get when the weather is so hot. For me, this isn't a bad thing at all, because I enjoy the thunderstorms and the rain. Tanner though, there's a different story. The sound of the thunder scares him, he doesn't like lightening at all, and maybe not so crazy about hard rain. So during these times, I have 120 pounds of scared fur all over me, trying to get as close as possible.

Myself on the other hand, for some reason I enjoy the storms. I like to watch as mother nature unleashes all her power, and I find it very relaxing. (Except for the 120 pounds of fur in my lap)

I like to watch the rain, and listen to it as it hits the roof, think about all the good it's doing for the grass, trees and flowers. And I like the after-rain smell, when everything seems cleansed. My only drawback is that now I'm reduced to only practicing my putting inside the house, which isn't such a bad thing either, if you were to watch me putt.

As I sit here now I can hear the thunder moving off in the distance, the rain has become a steady sound on the roof, so I think I'll try and go to bed and enjoy the alluring sounds of nature as I fall asleep. What about you...do you ever just simply enjoy nature for herself?

Hot, Tired, but Happy

Yes, it's hot here today. After a long winter that, to be honest, could have been much worse, springtime arrived and allowed me to get outdoors again, and now summer is here and the heat is on. But I won't complain, because I get to do a lot of things I enjoy.

I actually enjoy doing the yard work, though it's hard sometimes, but nice. I really love to cook outside on the grill, and of course Tanner absolutely loves that too, because he knows that when I cook for me, I also cook for him. Spoiled? Yeah, but that's what he's here for.

Then there's the planting of tomatoes and peppers, that's about all I did this year, but I'm a real squash and okra lover too! Just don't seem to have enough time right now to take care of all those things.

And of course there's golf! One of the things that brings me much pleasure is simply hitting golf balls. Even when I'm not playing on the course, I enjoy so much just practicing in the back yard. I think I mentioned before that I have a fairly large yard, so I have a flag stick and small green at one end, and since I'm surrounded by woods, there's no neighbors house close enough to worry about, so the only windows I can break are my own, lol. I've been lucky though, and that hasn't happened. About the best exercise I get is retrieving the balls after Tanner chases them and puts them all in a little pile next to his big tree. But I guess that's exercise for both of us.

Talking to Katherine tonight, she was telling me that it's not so hot there today, and it made me wish to be in Davao so I could go play at Apo golf course. But then we got to talking about the sea, and I was thinking that maybe I would rather walk down there and enjoy the water. I believe that when I finally get there for good, there's going to be plenty to keep me busy.

Having to work different shifts also takes a lot of my time, for the next three days I have to open, which means getting up at 5:00 in the morning, after that I'll be closing, meaning I will be getting to bed to sleep around that same time, so it does take a toll.

I hope you are also enjoying whatever weather you're having right now, and are able to get out and do the things you like to do. Whatever that may be, just stay happy!

Double Take...

I couldn't pass this up as my pic' of the day....

Wireless Routers

In today's world of seemingly ever-advancing technology, it stands to reason that each of us are constantly searching for new and better ways to advance our own knowledge and use of safe designs. One of the things I have searched for is the ability to use a wireless router. This is a device I can use to remotely connect to the internet without the use of cables, and has become very popular in today's market. I have found a site that gives quite detailed information on the use of this and I would like to share it with you now.

Not only can you read and learn about the use of wireless routers, but the site contains very detailed information on the different standards and speeds for use of home, home office, or for laptop users, allowing you unlimited access anywhere with your laptop, and for gamers. Perhaps you enjoy watching a movie, or listening to streaming audio; this is one place you can learn more about that also.

If you're worried about security, you can feel safe by reading about the specifics for securing your routing networks, and learn much about the new products related to this purpose. They offer true cutting edge technology with a product range such as the Netgear Super G wireless router, the Spam Cube and the Trust Eli Security Appliance, just to mention a few of the safety products you will be introduced to.

The site also contains product descriptions and offers on major brands with names you have come to know and trust, such as Apple, Belkin, Netgear and Microsoft among others. You can see top rated models to choose from here. There are also video reviews of the products to better help you understand about anti virus, anti spyware, firewalls and firewall software and lots more.

If you're interested in staying on top of all the new products, information and security being used in today's hi tech world, then this site is a must-see for you. I truly think you will find yourself in awe of the contents and insightful information. Do yourself a favor and go there today to check it out. You won't be disappointed.

Golf: Practice Makes Perfect....

Well, actually we're talking about golf here, so it's never going to be perfect. Sure, every once in a while you can hit that perfect drive, or spin a wedge 6" from the hole, but more often than not, your shots are going to be off. To me that's not a bad thing, it's what makes me want to go out and play more, because golf is one game that you will never master, but you will have loads of fun trying.

Surely the best way to get better at golf is to play. The more you play, the more you become comfortable with the game, with your swing, and you learn to relax, which is one important key element in a good golf swing. So how do you develop a good swing? Well, the first thing you can do is find a good instructor, a PGA pro can help you with any number of swing problems and get you on the right track. When I first started seriously trying to get good, I had the pro at a local shop fit me for the proper irons and shafts, and watch while I took advice and developed a swing that was correct. After that phase, there comes a lot of range time, which you can turn into a fun day of practice. It doesn't have to feel like work, although you're constantly learning.

When I go to the range, I enjoy taking my time there, and might spend hours hitting buckets of balls. Over the years I have developed my own swing, my own feel, so that's what I work on. Now, I don't mean to just stand there and hit ball after ball seeing how far you can make it go, though I see many doing that. One of the things I do is use my imagination and play golf, even on the driving range. There are several courses I play quite often and in my mind I know the layout of the holes, I can think to things I have done good and bad at several hole locations, so I practice on that. Let's say I have a problem with #12 at Foxwood, a tee shot over water to an uphill fairway, then a dogleg to the left going into the green. So I want to work on a fade (for me since I'm a left handed golfer). I hit my tee shot at the range, judge where it lands and picture the fairway at that particular hole. Now I can work on my approach shot to get the fade I want, distance, and leave myself on the green, or practice a layup with a short wedge to the green. You can use your imagination while on the driving range and actually play a whole round of golf like this. You will be surprised at a couple of things, how fast the time goes by, and how much you will improve your shot making abilities when you get back on the course.

Range time is the time to work on your shots, try new things, develop new strategies. Maybe you want to learn to fade or draw the ball consistently, hit high or low shots, develop more backspin with your wedges...this is the time and place for it. Don't try to make many swing changes out on the course, by doing that here on the range, you can have your game ready and enjoy that round of golf.

Also, you can get so much information from videos such as the PGA tour produces. Personally I have a whole library of this stuff, and it's not only fun for me to watch on a rainy day, but the information I take away is a lot of what I try when I do go to the range for practice.

And on those days I stay at home, well, I have a flag stick with a small green in the backyard, and a chipping net for accuracy training, and I hit those plastic practice balls quite a bit there. That can help you groove a repeating swing faster than you realize. Oh, and of course, I have my personal trainer, Tanner, who loves to chase them and run put them under his tree.

If you get out to the range, try this little method of practice. Use your imagination and see where it takes you.

Golf...Getting the Swing Back

I haven't been here for a little while, so much to do with not enough hours in the day. If you have read here in the past, you know this last year has been hectic with lots of medical problems, seemingly all at once. After a small stroke last year, one of the things that depressed me the most was the loss of vision in my left eye, which has been coming back, although very slowly. This caused me to lose the ability to do one of the things I enjoy most, playing golf.

With the coming of springtime and warmer weather though, I have been working hard to get my swing back. At first it was impossible to hit the ball, my vision causing me to not have focus when I set up to the ball and tried to swing. I always topped it or shanked it to the left, everything but a good swing and strike. I'm happy now though, because over the past couple of weeks I have worked very hard at practice in the back yard and it seems to be paying off. I feel my swing is back, maybe even better than before simply because I have had to concentrate so much on proper ball striking, and now I'm back to hitting it straight, being able to play fades and draws again, and it feels good. I haven't worried too much about distance yet, because that's there with proper striking anyway, and now it's time to head out to the driving range and work on that part.

Unless you're an avid golfer, this probably doesn't mean too much to you, but for me, it was a loss of something I loved to do for a while there. Now that it's coming back to me, I have learned to appreciate it even more than before. I think that over the next few days I'll write more about practice, how it's helped me and how it can make a difference in your game. Now that I'm ready for the range, it's just a matter of days until it's time for the course again. Look out Tiger and Phil.......

Fragrance Online....

Of course everyone likes to look good, smell good, and feel good. I want to tell you about a site I found that helps you do just that. They have perfumes for both women and men, at what I consider great prices, plus you have the convenience of shopping from right at home on your computer. It doesn't get much better than that!

Fragrance Online has many products to choose from; they offer gift sets for that someone special, hair care products, skin care products and much more. They offer fragrances from over 120 different design houses, so you have quite a lot of brand names to choose from. You can shop from the list, or simply choose your own favorite brand and go from there.

For ease of shopping and the convenience of doing it from home, I recommend trying this site and getting to know all the special deals they offer. From perfumes to your favorite hair or skin care products, you can find virtually everything you need. Also right now you can take a simple online survey of the website and get an additional 10% off your next order.

You owe it to yourself to check it out, so go to Fragrance Online and browse through all their products. I can bet you'll find something you like.

Tweetergetter....

Hey check this out...
I just found this site that shows you a way of getting 1000's of new followers on twitter, I just started using itmyself and its starting to work already.

http://tweetergetter.com/rdlivengood

Thought it might interest you.
rdlivengood

Is It Springtime Yet???

What a difference a week makes sometimes. Last week it was 13 degrees here, with 6" of snow on the ground, and today I'm outside washing and waxing my truck in almost 80 degree sunshine. Well, I'm not complaining at all, I rather enjoy this. I love the change from winter to spring. I enjoy so much waking up and hearing the birds singing outside, and taking Tanner out in the warm sun to enjoy the day.

Talking to Katherine on the phone, listening to her tell about going to the sea and how it's hot there in Davao while it's cold and snow covered here makes me wish I was back there again. But on days like this, I'm just happy to be able to get out and enjoy it. Oh, don't get me wrong, there are things I love about winter also, the snow is beautiful when it's falling, and the quiet of the landscape as it lays there is a great sight. But I think these old bones take better to the warmth of the sunshine nowadays than to the freezing temperatures that make them stiff. Not to mention the heating bills!

Ah, we all have to live and enjoy the things God gives us each day, so I can't really complain no matter what each day brings. I do appreciate though, the sunshine I can enjoy today.

From Sun to Snow....Again!

After a pretty nice week here weather-wise, the temperatures going into the high 60s, it all turned around again this weekend when the snow started falling on Sunday evening and continued through most of the night. We wound up with 6-7 inches here, and I had to be working the night shift of course, so I got the pleasure of driving home in it at 2:00 AM.

Arriving home so late, when the temperatures had dropped below freezing, I was greeted with having no electricity. Well, I had candles, so that was no problem. Tanner greeted me at the door as usual, but this time with a wondering look on his face, especially when he looked out the door at the white stuff everywhere. And yes, there was the usual amount of wanting to play when we walked outside to let him do his business.

Coming back in, lighting the candles, it's all well and good. Except for the fact that my heat is also electric. So let's rummage through the closet in the dark and bring out extra blankets, get into the bed, it's now 3:00 AM, and try to stay warm until the electric company gets things fixed. I reflect back on another reason why I would like to have a fireplace.

So, after drifting into the occasional nap, the power came back on at 9:00 in the morning. It had already gotten cold inside so I still had to wait a while for things to warm up, but Merci Dieu, the coffee pot was working!

Now things are starting to melt away, although the temperature last night was 13 degrees and the high today is only 33, at least the sun is shining. Friday is just around the corner, when we're supposed to back up in the 70s. I think I see some bouts of the flu headed our way. Now to talk again to Katherine so she can tell me all about walking down to the sea to swim!