musings

Death Be Not Proud, Redux

Today I attended a funeral service for a fellow employee's child. On Thursday, I was supposed to have a meeting with him to discuss a bunch of stuff when I logged into komotv.com in the morning and saw that a child with his last name, from his town, was killed riding his bike the night before. I prayed with all my might that it wasn't him, but once I contacted his manager, my worst fears were realized.

That's two this year.

I'm stunned beyond belief, and the sadness I saw today was incredible. The church was overflowing, so much so that I had to sit outside in the sun (bummer there as I had no sunscreen and am cooked now). I can say that it sounded like this man is an amazing father, with an amazing group of friends.

I can't even fathom this. I'll ponder more and write more later.

Golf Weekend, Etc.

Played two rounds this weekend.

Saturday

Played with Paul and some guy from the club named Russell. Started off with a bogey, but managed to get through the front 9 with a 40, which was fairly nice. However, I was unable to maintain my coolness through the back 9, finding myself struggling through a 46.

Some moments:

Hole 5: not a great tee shot, left myself a long shot into the green. Debated between the 7i and the 6i, finally keeping to the 6i. It sailed toward the flag and never wavered. Landed about a foot and a half from the hole. Birdie.

Hole 7: ugly tee shot, but got lucky. par.

Sunday

Played with Dan and Blake. Was good to get out and not talk about work, just golf. This round was very much like the back 9 of Saturday's round. Just wasn't making good contact, and when I did, I wasn't sinking putts. My chipping was the only thing keeping me alive. Ended on a 95. Had only one really "great" moment.

Hole 13: slice my 2i off the tee. Dammit. Find the ball and pitch out to the fairway. Now I have about 65 yards to the pin. Take my 58* wedge and give it a good twack to get it past the hole, spins back into the cup for my birdie. Hard way to earn that. :)

Oh, it also seems I won the golf pool this week. Nutty. Very nutty.

Travel, Yum

Down in the Bay Area for a few days. Flight was okay, plane was nearly empty (how do they afford that?). Get out of airport, have to take the detour from hell to get to the highway, get to the hotel.

Check in.

Get to room. Plug computer in. No workie with the internet. Call the front desk. They send an engineer up. Half hour of dicking around and they decide "It's dead, Jim."

Move me to another room.

Internet doesn't work. At this point, I'm starting to call other hotels in the area.

They come up to have me try the internet in the room across the hall. Key doesn't work. Guy disappears again. Comes back.

This room is a very nice suite. The internet works. I call up and demand to stay here at the original price. They relent.

I shouldn't have had to ask.

Service. Sheesh.

In Memory

O captain! my captain! our fearful trip is done;
The ship has weathered every rack, the prize we sought is won;
The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,
While follow eyes the stead keel, the vessel grim and daring.

But O heart! heart! heart!
O the bleeding drops of red!
Where on the deck my captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.

II.

O captain! my captain! rise up and hear the bells;
Rise up! for you the flag is flung, for you the bugle trills:
For you bouquets and ribboned wreaths, for you the shores a-crowding:
For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning.

O captain! dear father!
This arm beneath your head;
It is some dream that on the deck
You've fallen cold and dead.

III.

My captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still;
My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will.
The ship is anchored safe and sound, its voyage closed and done:
From fearful trip the victor ship comes in with object won!

Exult, O abores! and ring, O bells!
But I, with silent tread,
Walk the spot my captain lies
Fallen cold and dead.

-- Walt Whitman