THE FATHER BLOG

I am back from another short trip with Mikey and his good buddy. We traveled up to New England and played multiple rounds of golf over the past few days. The trip was a lot of fun and we were lucky enough to have great weather and great meals as well. When in New England this time of year I want to eat as many Lobster Rolls as I can!

We played 4 courses over three days in three different states and it was a blast. The big finale was Sunday afternoon at Connecticut National Golf Club. We got to the course early and was lucky enough to have our tee time moved up. This was a big help to get us through 18 as it’s been getting dark earlier. We were lined up behind the 3:12pm group (which was going off early) as we were the 3:21pm slot. As we are sitting there, one cart cuts in front of us (young guy and his GF) and then second carts pulls up to us with the Dad and Mom. I inform the Dad that we are the next tee time and asked him what theirs was to which he responded “3pm”.

The looked like they could be members and I’m just a guest playing this beautiful course so I generously offer them to go ahead of us if they want. I was hoping seeing we were just 3 golfers and they were 4, that he would allow us to go. Also hoping because they were late and we weren’t, he may say to go ahead. No such luck.

So we sat as we watched them tee off…if you could call it that. The Dad looked like he could play a little after addressing the ball between 12-15 times before every shot. The Mom was basically all over the place. The young guy swung hard and clearly just prayed he’d be able to find the ball. The young girlfriend shouldn’t ever be allowed within 2 miles of a golf course. They held us up because they spent 5 minutes or more with the cart girl at the 2nd tee. We watched them drive their golf cart up on to the fringe of the green and over fescue and edges of bunkers. We listened to the Dad (possibly now drunk) cursing at his wife to “hit the f’ing ball!”. We watched the young couple act like they were at a carnival more than a golf course.

I don’t know if they quit after 14 holes or were just too drunk/stupid to follow the cart path to the 15th tee but we didn’t complain. We rushed up to 15, teed off, and off we went to finish the full 18. 18th hole was finished using neon colored balls and almost in the dark but we got it done!

Life is about the adventures and the stories we can tell. Years from now I doubt I’ll remember how I played that course but I’ll remember the idiocy of the people in front of us. So thanks for those memories!!

Mikey and his buddy Brayden doing the Ryder Cup pose.

Booze Tuesday and I’m talking about a riot? Yes I am!

So while we were on our little hiking adventure, we stopped for lunch at a pub on the way north and I always love trying something local that I haven’t had. There was a beer called “Riot in Vermont” from Prison City Brewery in Auburn, NY. I figured I would give it a try. I’m glad I did…it was very, very good. So good it prompted me to look for more in the local stores in Corning, NY and surrounding areas around the state parks. This is when I realized it wasn’t just one riot…..there is an entire series of them.

I have since tried Riot Down Under, Mass Riot, HyperBoost Mass Riot, and Riot in Maine.

Excellent job by the brewers at Prison City! If only you shipped down to NJ, I would constantly purchase your beers and try any of the others I haven’t had yet.

If you get the chance and ever find their beers, definitely give them a try!

Our Beer — PRISON CITY BREWING

I usually talk about investing on Mondays, but what happens to all the hard work you did after you’re gone? For those of us with children, we obviously have them first in mind and how to take care of them not only while we are here, but also after we’re gone.

So based on that, which is better: a will or a trust? As always, the answer is: it depends! Whether you choose a will or a trust, the key is just do something!