NATIONAL CRANBERRY RELISH DAY Foursome

November 22, 2019

NATIONAL CRANBERRY RELISH DAY

Another seasonal holiday staple graces the table each year and National Cranberry Relish Day makes sure you’re prepared. For Thanksgiving Day make sure you’re stocked and ready. Ocean Spray cranberries are currently on sale at Fred Meyer. Plymouth once had a Cranbrook model (Surferino’s first car). One wonders if the Cranbrook flowed into a cranberry bog. Hmmmm.....

Not to be forgotten, today is the 56th anniversary of JFK’s assassination. For an interesting take on the sequence of events leading to the assassination listen to

https://content.production.cdn.art19.com/validation=1574614580,e8e4748d-23e8-5981-9df8-c3f8f7183d36,PMhRKsyHiECboZ8dQjUtLcahF7s/episodes/074a8853-f30c-48d3-aea2-74c066d47819/ac746dfd00b9427b1ba037b8ce580af2816996d67db65f21ea7e2a23a033b74b63bef0afda017b2d402b04e752fc221a9f3e6d10b57f0cf5417bc450ad3dac64/THPP_OneHour-ads-2019_1122.mp3

Mr. Wicket, Sticky Wicket, Surferino and Wick O’Shay convened at Mar-A-Lawno for a 1 p.m. tee off on a cold but clear autumn day. Heavy dew glistened on the long deep green grass on which the traditional course was laid out. Engaging treats were provided at the prefunq. Two rounds were played.

Surferino won both rounds. His killing spree to end the second round was masterful. It was occasioned by Wick’s missing a medium distance kill shot leaving Surferino in excellent position.

The SOD was Mr Wicket’s roquet on Surferino at the fifth wicket. From a lengthy distance, Mr. Wicket sent his ball backwards through the wicket bouncing on top of Surferino’s ball.

Surprisingly, no goofs, flubs or brain farts occurred during play. Perhaps the tasteful music, engaging treats and cold concentrated the minds of the players. It would not be fair to say that Lefty’s absence was also a reason.

 Long live the Cowabungas!

NATIONAL LOUISIANA DAY Fivesome

November 9, 2019.

NATIONAL LOUISIANA DAY

On November 9, National Louisiana Day recognizes the state that brought us such treasures as Jazz, Creole and American Mardi Gras. Also, Randy Newman, who grew up in Louisiana, wrote the song, Louisiana 1927, about the great flood of that year.

Throughout the history of the state, the blending of race and culture have resulted in the Delta’s own unique flair that brings visitors from around the world seeking to taste their food, hear their music, see their style, and get sick drunk on Bourbon Street.

When French explorers first arrived, several diverse tribes populated the area. Many of their population were decimated by disease and war. Who can forget the horror of firing cannons till the barrel melted down. Natchez, Choctaw or Chitimacha descendants still survive today.

In 1803, Louisiana became territory when the United States completed negotiations with France for the 828,000 mile Louisiana Purchase. The first of 15 states to be carved out of the region, Louisiana entered the United States in 1812.

Today, the LSU football team managed to defeat Alabama in Tuscaloosa by a score of 46 to 41. Geaux Tigers?

On a moist, gray, cold autumn day, Mr. Wicket, Lefty, Wick O'Shay and Surferino awaited the arrival of Mr. Balls. They ate special candy and drank beer while waiting. Although invited, Sticky Wicket was unable to attend. Upon Mr. Balls arrival, the players assembled to tee off on the traditional course layout. 

The Mar-A-Lawno grass had been mown and fertilized. Tiny white fertilizer pellets stuck to the wet weather footwear worn by the players. Perhaps affected by the barely clement weather condition, the first game went quickly. Lefty won.

The second game also went quickly. Mr. Wicket and Mr. Balls both became poison and found themselves in a shootout. The game could have lasted longer had not Mr. Balls, beer full, announced that his aged bladder demanded he take an uphill 15' shot at Mr. Wicket's ball positioned on the boundary. To miss, would have meant a short kill shot for Mr. Wicket and possibly embarrassing incontinence for Mr. Balls. But, he puckered, swung and grazed Mr. Wicket's ball for the win.

SOD: Mr. Balls' long distance through the eighth wicket. Great Balls on fire!

DIOS DE LOS MUERTOS EVE Foursome

Dia de los Muertos

Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a two-day festival that takes place every November 1 and 2. Although most strongly identified with Mexico, Dia de los Muertos is celebrated throughout Latin America and everywhere with a Latino population, including the United States of America.

The day before Dia de los Muertos is Halloween. Four Cowabungas celebrated the hallowed day at Mar-A-Lawno where the wickets were festooned with pumpkin baskets and witches. In honor of the occasion, the black and orange balls were played. A lengthy playlist of themed songs had the players doing the Monster Mash, singing along with the Purple People Eater, Spooky, Witchy Woman, etc. To the song Thriller, Sticky did his shuffle and an odd moon walk.

Two rounds were played on the original course which was deeply green with thick grass, not too damp. Wind was not a factor. Just a bright, sunny but cold fall day. Sticky, Wick, Surferino and a costumed Mr. Wicket prefunqed. Sticky managed to botch his opening shot thereafter remaining well behind.

Perhaps it was luck, the costume or the prefunq, certainly not skill,  Mr. Wicket won both rounds. In game one, a poisoned Surferino killed Wick at the starting wickets and would have had a short kill shot on poisoned Mr. Wicket but for his ball ricocheting off Wick and through the first wicket. Suicide one. In game two, poisoned Sticky attempted a kill shot on Mr. Wicket who tried to hide behind the tenth wicket. Sticky put his ball through the wicket committing suicide. Suicide two. Halloween became Dia de los Muertos much to Mr. Wicket’s amusement.