Disky business

On Thursday, I played Disc Golf for the first time. For those who aren't familiar, Disc Golf is similar to traditional golf except instead of hitting a ball into a hole, you throw a frisbee-like disc into a standing basket. The object of the game is to navigate the course from beginning to end in the fewest number of throws of the disc. There are different types of discs used for different purposes (eg. putter).

This is a disc

This is a basket

When Chris asked if I wanted to play, I was intrigued. I've been wanting to be more active and he described it as "exercise in disguise." 

Perfect.

I imagined a leisurely jaunt on a rolling green, casually throwing a frisbee at a basket. 

First mistake.

With that image in mind, I wore a fleece jacket, corduroys and sneakers without socks.

Second mistake.

When we arrived, there was no rolling green in sight, just a beautiful wooded park. Chris quickly briefed me on the rules and the game began. As a former high school discus champion*, I assumed it would be a walk in the park. 

Pun intended

Throwing the disc is harder than I imagined. It's lighter than a discus but heavier than a frisbee. And for disc golf newbies it tends to veer off in the opposite direction of your target. Chris patiently tried to teach me the choreography of throwing but I'm not the most coordinated person in the world. I walk into things pretty frequently (hourly) and have fallen down (and up) my fair share of stairs. Needless to say, it took me quite some time to grasp the step, step, hop throw. Or something like that.

Another thing I didn't anticipate was the retrieving of the disc. In the heavily wooded park, there were streams to cross, mud and puddles to (unsuccessfully) navigate around and slippery acorns and wet leaves to (unsucessfully) avoid slipping on. Also, some sassy squirrels tried to drop acorns on my head. And it rained at one point.

Deadly acorns

Oh did I mention the hills? There were a lot of those. The "rolling green" translated into basically an all up-hill course. The only rolling involved was if you slipped and fell down the mini-mountain. Exercise in disguise? An 18 hole, 1 mile, steep hilled course is just called exercise. If that's what Chris considers disguise, he would make a terrible spy. 

The hills are alive

By the end (ok, second hole) I was sweating, out of breath, with muddy pants and soaking wet feet. I'm not sure who won because I stopped scoring after I hit par 8 on one hole. That should tell you who won. 

While disc golf was nothing like I imagined, it was fun and a good workout. And the scenery was incredible.

But next time, I'll dress a little more appropriately.

*In the Prep B, Central Jersey division in which I was one of the only discus throwers. 

The Daily Haps - Thursday 9/30

Thursday was a bit more productive. We started out the day (okay, afternoon) doing random errands in the front yard. Chris cut some railroad ties for the garden and I painted a flower pot. The previous owners left some concrete flower pots strewn throughout the yard and I've taken it upon myself to repaint them all in lieu of doing any yard work of actual importance.

I basically live in exercise clothes these days. Not because I exercise more, because they are more comfortable than pants suits.

Once I tired of painting (2o minutes later) Chris requested (begged) that I accompany him to the driving range. I have never been and was extremely sore from playing tennis (once) all week. But he finally convinced me to go. I spent 45 minutes trying to pick out an outfit until he informed me there was no pretentious dress code at ranges.

The range turned out to be fun. Unsurprisingly I was the only female there. It was all middle aged men escaping their wives. After a few dozen fruitless swings, and despite being told that I swung like Charles Barkley, I finally hit it. After that I was hooked. I now understand why men go to the range to get away from it all. Granted, I don't have much to get away from, but it was still a nice change of scenery.

Afterwards we played some tennis and then...Buffalo bleu chicken burgers! With bacon! Yes, food is my life.

The Daily Haps - Tuesday 9/28

Tuesday was a very active day, and the reason that I have aches in muscles I didn't know existed. Around noon we went to Cleveland Park, a beautiful park near downtown. The park has a series of exercise equipment along one of the trails. Each one was a reminder of what terrible shape I am in. I could've done these exercises with ease in high school. Now, I can barely hang on long enough to take a picture. That's right, these are all staged.

After the photoshoot, we walked a few miles on the trail. The weather was perfect. Cleveland Park makes it more comfortable for the less exercise inclined like myself by cushioning half the trail. It's like walking on a mattress. I can almost convince myself I'm still in bed. Chris said the cushioning is to help prevent shin splints but I know the truth.

After the walk, we stopped at the courts for a quick game. For us, a game means rallying for 10 seconds, running to get the ball, rallying for 10 seconds, jogging to get the ball, rallying for 20 seconds, walking to get the ball...you get the point. Five minutes in, I was ready to go home.

On our way home we stopped at the grocery store to pick up lunch ingredients and gawk at the unrefrigerated meat.

What happened after the meat?? Stay tuned for the exciting details!!

The Daily Haps - Friday 9/24

Today was a scorcher (like all the other days). Brutus was the only sucker who chose to be outside.

We had a lunch of repentance for yesterday's late night ice cream binge (unpictured)

But eventually we decided to venture out for some shopping. Chris warmed up to prepare.

I accidentally left my iphone in the car while we shopped. When I returned to the car, turned out even the phone was feeling the heat. If I'd left my phone in the car in NYC/Philly, I would have returned to the car window shattered on the ground.

We stopped over at Mom's house for some home cooking. She basically makes a variation of the same meal every time, but it's always tasty. If it ain't broke...

Later she talked about her wood carving class. The creepy owl was one of her class assignments.

Then we each had a Clemson themed cake lollipop for dessert. They live for college ball down here. I eat for it.

Then some tennis to burn off the high calorie Clemson spirit. You know you're getting better when you leave the court with the same number of balls you came with.

This was a pose. I do not serve.

On the way home we decided to get beer. "Where you gon' git it?" I asked. "Prolly the gas station by ahr house," Chris replied. Know what I love about you South Carolina? The fact that that is an option. I've even bought beer at the dollar store.

On the way home we passed a high school football game. Apparently high school football is also huge around here. We considered stopping but a wild party awaited us at home. Me, Chris, Brutus and 2 six packs of Bud Light Wheat.

This is what their Friday night looks like

This is what my Friday night looks like. Call the party police, this could get real.

The Daily Haps - Thursday 9/23

We start most of our days with job hunting. Chris does his in his "office," also known as the den. It has wood panelling and carpet so I avoid it on principle.

Our gardener/landlor/only friend dropped by with some plants

And Chris held a racquet for the first time. He grew up playing baseball so I expected a lot of balls lobbed out of the court. He insisted this would not happen.

Leave this to the professionals. I mean, I was named after tennis superstar, Zina Garrison. Just so ya know.

We headed to the courts at Cleveland courts. It was actually a lot of fun. And surprisingly, Chris only hit 3 homeruns into the next court.

And for reasons I will never understand, he picked up a giant cicada in the parking lot

Leftovers rounded out the night.

'

Fin.