WHICH IS THE WAY?

First of all, tell me if the rocking chair in the picture is facing towards or away from the house. I'm not sure what difference it makes; at least not when I get to my topic.

Someone by the name of Isabel Waxman put it in perspective when she said, "We spend our school days yearning to graduate, and our remaining days waxing nostalgic about our school days." What perspective? Human nature.

Why are we like that? Never satisfied. When Mick Jagger was young he said, "I hope I'm not on stage singing 'Satisfaction' when I'm 45 years old." The rest, as they say, is history as he continues in his 60's to belt out, "and I try, and I try, and I try, and I try/ I can't get no satisfaction, no satisfaction, no satisfaction, no, no, no, no." When we studied the Book of Ecclesiastes in Adult Bible Fellowship, I commented that Mick failed to read Chapter 13, when Solomon reveals the only real satisfaction we can attain.

Another author, James Hilton, in Lost Horizon says something to the effect that the first 25 years of our lives we are too young for things. The last 25 years of our lives we are too old for things. What a short period of time illuminates that time in between, those 25 fruitful years.

So what's the answer? Oh, I don't have many answers. I'd say to enjoy the time now, whether you're in the first, middle, or last 25. I'd say maybe Waxman has sent out a warning to heed. And if not her, then certainly King Solomon, the wisest person who ever lived.

NOW WHERE'S MY COAT

You see, I have to go to the grocery store today. We have several that we take in during a week.

Frys (Kroeger) for our main stuff. WalMart for toiletries (I hate that image) and Diet Coke 8 oz. in plastic bottles and 150 calorie packs of Lays. Also 100 calorie packs of other junk foods. And, not to forget Lean Cuisine. Sprouts (a Farmer's Market store like Whole Foods or Organic 'R Us [ok, I made that one up]) for produce. Trader Joe's, a specialty store for bruschetta, orchids, green beans and carrots, tea and other stuff that we can't get other places or just prefer them from TJ's. Once we mistakenly stopped there for Diet Cokes and bacon. They had neither, only generic sodas--is there anything worse? CQ announced to no one in particular, "This store's too healthy for me." It had been a long day.

So that's our run. So what's the point, other than to illustrate how we maybe have too much time on our hands? It's how cold they keep the stores. I think Sprouts wins, but not by much.

And I don't understand. I mean, I can see why restaurants may be kept cooler for cooks and servers. But why is it so cold at the store? Is it to preserve food? Not in Arizona. But I shiver when we go down the frozen food aisles, and when we open the coolers.

Maybe someone should start a rent-a-coat business, just as one enters the stores. Return upon leaving. Hey, I'd pay for the service. I hate wearing my Winter coat in the car on the way to store. Especially when my outside thermostat reads 108.

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Answer to the quiz about the guy pictured from a 1966 movie. None other than Young and the Restless' main man, Mr. Victor Newman, or Eric Braeden.

So that's our run.

WHEN TO STOP

Spelling bananananana. That's the hardest part.

The banana plantation we visited in Puerto Limon, Costa Rica, recently gave us more answers about bananas than anyone has a right to know. The first thing we discovered is that the banana tree does not exist. They don't come from trees, but from roots, making them the largest herbs. Growing in 100 pound bunches, each wrapped in blue plastic bags serve a dual purpose. The greenhouse effect helps them mature while the bags provide protection against pesticides and insects. Since some insects see ultraviolet, the blue color guards against infestation.

They reminded us of the way the Japanese wrap each of their plums or apples, only their bags are white. Also much more time consuming.

When the banana blossoms, or chitas, it reveals a hand, just like a corn husk. A beautiful bloom, it is somewhere between the colors purple and wine. The fingers of the hand are actually the ovaries. And that's the part we eat when they mature.

The curve in the banana is a result of its reaching toward the sun. As for the male part of the banana, well, it's chopped off at the stalk.

The bananas, these from Del Monte, are shipped completely green. If they are not absolutely perfect, they won't be exported. One use of the imperfects is to feed cattle. Ecuador is the number one exporter; Costa Rica, number 2. But Costa Rica is numero uno in pineapples.

The next time you bite into one, remember if it has brown spots, it got them in shipment. Also, don't forget that you're eating ovaries.

ICONIC

Who is pictured in the military hat for a movie he made in 1966? Oh, you'll know him. Look carefully.

Answer will be revealed in a later blog entry.

Also, to be revealed tomorrow night, congrats to little David Archuletta for winning the Idol contest over my choice David Cook.

Now as far as who makes it bigger in the entertainment world, I'd say Cook. Or as our son says, "I'd never buy a CD that featured Archuletta, but I would and probably will buy Cook."

Good summary for me, too.

AFTER TWO

At the Camelback Golf Club Padre Course, the tougher of the two eighteen hole courses at the famed resort, I shot 7 over par. That's good for me on a 110 degree day, though by the time we finished, the mercury had only climbed to 106 or 108 depending on who was reporting. It's a challenging course that measures 6,500 yards.

Oh, there was one more detail: my score was after two holes. Yep. I was a personal worst 7- over after 2. I'd love to say I parred out the rest of the way, but no, not at all.

We started out early to avoid the temperatures as much as possible. Only, Dave, my bro-in-law and I, and a lady were on the driving range. I love to warm up and I had had a great session. I could vary hitting wedge, eight iron, three wood, and turn and chip onto the practice green behind me. I think I took a few liberties there, but I couldn't have warmed up any better.

No surprise, I crushed my drive. I didn't hit a good second shot though and had to chip on, where I proceeded to three-putt.

Hole number two saw another well struck drive followed by a miserable eight iron into a green side bunker. Where I hit my fourth shot onto the green and two putted. If you didn't catch that, I hit three shots in the sand that didn't make it out. I carded a 9 on the hole.

Chi Chi Rodriquez has a warm up hole on the courses he designs. I need about 6 warm up holes most days. For the last twelve holes, I was seven over par. Same as the first two. Go figure. A buddy has told me I'm good for about 7 holes a round, then I collapse. That was in the past. Oh, he may be right, but now I spread them out.

Last week at The Phoenician I had made five 3's in the first 12 holes. I faded badly and fired an 87. Something about the level of concentration I have. Or haven't.

So on I press. Not to win and kiss a cup as Andy Bean. Just to minimize dumb shots I hit. And try to get that score down.