It Just Gets Better and Better...

The Good News is that we keep planting more stuff in the garden and all is going well. No animal attacks yet, so the garden security is working - so far. We also got a bunch of large pots and Pam has been planting all sorts of pretty stuff to make the outside of the house look great. I hooked them all up to the irrigation system, so we won't have to worry about them getting enough water. More to follow, I am sure...

The 'Estate Grounds' are looking great with the lawn getting better and better, as are all the plants and trees. With Pam's help, I am starting to get the hang of all this planting and growing stuff.

The Better News is that the Ho River and Stream Fishing Season starts this Saturday - FINALLY! This is something I have been waiting to start for months. I plan on being at my favorite fishing spot by sunrise so nobody else gets my fish. The fish have to be 20" or larger there to keep and the last time I was there 'observing', they were looking good. There are lots of Rainbow, Brown and Golden Trout there just waiting for me. I have all my tackle all ready to go. The only 'concerning' thing is that the weather is suppose to be rainy and colder than usual, but we will just have to deal with it.

And, the Best News is that I came in Second again in the weekly 8-ball tournament this Wednesday - AND - in the process, beat one of the best players in the area TWICE. Steve, a friend, and past and current league team member and great player, has beaten me every time we have played for the past two years. If you have followed this moras, er BLOG, for any time, you will probably remember my mentioning Steve - usually in frustration. Last year, He was a much higher handicap than I was, so he would have to spot me from 6 to 12 balls in a race to 30 match - and beat me "like a rented mule". This time, with all my recent winning, we were even handicaps, so he didn't spot me anything. The first match was pretty close with me winning 30 to 27 and we were both 'impressed' by the outcome. We both went along playing other matches, with him beating a number of really good players along the way, until we ended up meeting again for second place. He was ready for me this time and so was I. He broke the first rack and didn't make a ball. I ran the rack giving me a 10-0 lead. Then, He broke and got 3 balls and I ended up running the rack again - score 20-3. The last game he made 5 balls, before I ran out and won the match 30-8. After all this time I finally figured out how to beat these guys - Don't let them shoot, or if they do, don't give them a makable shot...

He is a much better player than I am and has taught me a lot, and will beat me more than I beat him. But, it is good to finally be playing well enough to 'complete' with him, and hopefully I can keep getting better, as I know he will be...

The only bad news is that I am now a 12 handicap and will have to spot lots of good players being 8 and 9 handicaps. This means that I will have to keep playing very well, and very carefully, to do much winning. But, that is the way it goes here in DaHo...