Hi all,
Since I have been a part of this blogger I have not taken the time to post what is going on with myself. A bit selfish or lazy I suppose, but today is the first day that I feel that I could ramble enough to actually formulate a paragraph or two. First of all, I am out in Tempe, Arizona playing in a baseball tournament with some local Chicagoians that make a annual trip here for a weeks worth of baseball, binge drinking, and floozy hunting.
More or less the majority of the players on our team treat this as a 'gas petal to the floor' blowout experience off the field and that usually lands us a silver or bronze prize. I am not exempt of endulging in this in the past, but this year I have decided to try a different method and remain a bit more sober and spend some time reading and relaxing. After all alcoholism runs rampant at 1800 so I suppose this could be considered a vacaion from mid-twenties partying.
The night before my flight, amidst the general haze of whiskey and beer, I managed to procure a roomate's book I have had my eye on and somehow get it into one of my munitions bags before passing out completely... I just remembered that cousin Nick was there with Alberto. Sheesh, I am glad that I got to see him before I left and hang out with him for a bit because I seem to somehow miss most of our family gatherings lately... But, back to the here and now.
The book I borrowed from my roomate, Old School, was none other than Tolkien's The Hobbit which is a book I have never read, nor any other book by the author. I thought it would be a great book to have around the scenery in which I was staying in and a tale about adventure seems to fit the genereal mindset I have with these long distance tournaments. The hotel/resort I am staying at is called "The Buttes" and is built within two enormous buttes (moundish protrusions up to twenty stories high around here in an other wise valley-like location) and has cacti, wildlife and a view of the entire Phoenix valley along this psudo man made trail the resort laid out for its guests. It is great for staring at and leaning back and opening a good book. (I suppose one of the main reasons I read is to enhance whatever I am experiencing at the moment. It sort of gives a chronology to my life and gives me a marker to what I was doing at the time).
But lo, I will be back this Sunday morning to the autumn colors of Illinois only hoping that I did not miss the end of Indian summer and can still enjoy at least one more golf trip before the weather turns. And to all who post on this blog thank you for posting. I truly enjoy reading about what you all are up to now that most of you have stretched your wings from ol' 536 and begun to test youselves out in R.L. See you guys soon.
Charlie,
a.k.a. Swishy McJackass
3 comments:
Charlie, I think it is really very amazing that you travel for baseball. I wish I had even an ounce of your athleticism. You are a very interesting fellow. Your writing is damn near brilliant. Hope you hit a game winning HR. - jim
It's good to hear from you. It has been more than a month since I have seen "the sun stretch the hills" at Spring Valley golf course. You say you get back Sunday?
Well, you know how I feel about rushing around, but I have Sunday off, and I'm more than willing to drive up there for a round (hopefully not our last).
What is it that Tony likes to say?
"Peace and love!"
Dan
Hey, Charlie! Enjoy The Hobbit. Enormous buttes? Nice. Bilbo didn't see many of those, but that's a great book to travel with anyway. Especially if you're going to be outside much. I'm revisiting Tolkien lately as well - we're playing a suite of songs at our next band concert that were inspired by the whole Hobbits/Lord of the Rings world.
Enjoy your tournament!
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