Adventures in golf

A friend of mine got me started in golf. Of course, it's a difficult endeavor as I have not one athletic bone in my body. For this very reason alone, I enrolled in golf class. Thank God. But I do feel sorry for Ken, the golf teacher. I had my second lesson on Saturday and I have learned soooo much...but of course that it's so much that I forget a lot of it by the next class. Poor Ken. Here are some pics (and a good idea of what poor Ken has to work with).

Good posture

 

Bad posture

 

One of these is good and one of these is bad...

 

I can't remember which is which.

 

Drills, drills, drills

 

Ken had me work on several different drills:

1. Hold the club across my back and held in the crook of my elbows. Then I need to swing the torso back and forward to simulate the swing.

2. Pendulum swing. I have to keep my arms straight as I swing the club in front of me.

3. The ball drill. I have to lay two balls in front of me (see pic). The object is for me to hit the middle ball without touching the tee or the other ball.

Van turns 1!

 

Rosie ate a lot at Van's party...

 

Van's kind of a messy eater, so Rosie is right by his side to catch all the leftovers. On the big people's menu: meat loaf, mashed red potatoes, jalapeno creamed spinach, and sauteed basil carrots.

Susan & Sophia

 

I'm so excited...and it's not even my birthday!

 

Sophia was a ball of energy at the party. She talked, played, and ate cake. Not a bad night.

Mom & Dad (Van's...not mine)

 

Time for some cake!

 

This is for me?

 

Who doesn't love birthday cake??? After some hesitant poking and tasting, Van got on with the eating.

Mmm...cake...

 

 

Crash and Burn

 

The Christmas Season, sugar, presents & food

 

The Christmas season started in early December and did not end until today (January 3rd). I have had enough sugar and holiday food to hold me over until next Christmas. I kicked off the season by going with Eric over to visit Maggie. We brought over sugar cookies to bake and then decorate. They were good. Check out the rest of the pics from this season:

 

 

Tabehoudai Gang...December Meet-Up

 

The Tabehoudai Gang met up in early December for a get-together. Mari had a coupon for a Chinese restaurant in the International District so that's where we went. We're really not that picky. The restaurant was surprisingly empty for a Saturday night - which maybe was a sign, but we ignored it. The food turned out to be OK even though the building and parking lot was a bit sketchy. We laughed ourselves silly, exchanged gifts and then went to Kinokuniya Bookstore. Good times.

Mark & Mari

 

Peking Duck

 

The dinner

 

Apparently we really liked the Peking duck...there's only a drumstick left.

Jess

 

OMG...isn't this the cutest girl? This is Jessica, the daughter of a good friend. I got to see her (and her mom and dad) at a Christmas party this year and I had to take a pic. She's absolutely adorable. She's also articulate and polite. A delight.

 

Delivering presents...

 

Eric and I went over the John, Cindy's and Maggies to deliver presents. One of the gifts I got this year for Maggie (and Sophia/Van, and my brothers) is personalized sodas from Jones Soda. For Maggie I selected a picture of her mountain climbing. It turned out great.