As I reported earlier in June, I somehow made it out of the Lake Erie Putt Putt Championship as the winner.  My dear wife, Carrie, and I have competed in this tournament for three years in a row now.  We are the only contestants, though I think the event shows a promising future.

Carrie is a master putter.  One of the best.  Consistent form and a style that certainly fits her game.  When they whisper around the green when she putts, they also hold their breath in anticipation of greatness!

2019

2018

2017 with a purse.

The course at Geneva-On-The-Lake, Ohio is a fine one.  Old and well maintained.

A couple weeks ago Carrie and I attended an outdoor concert in Nashville.  The Ascend Amphitheater along the river down below Broadway to the right.  It was a nice place to watch a show.  Train was the headliner.  The Goo Goo Dolls also played and that was old school rock and roll like I did not expect.  They were fabulous.

Train was as tight as ever.  Playing hit after hit at breakneck speed.  I think their intent is to not let the audience breathe too much.  They jump right into the next song.  It is amazing.

Live music is good for the soul.  In church, in a park, in a hall, in a larger venue.  Positive music is a great thing.

Singing the rights.

Danny Johnson

I did some walking after school today.  It helps when one can breathe outside.  It felt great to take some steps without worrying about tasting sweat from my upper lip.

We have a great place to walk at North.  I have my own lap.  I wish I would make it around my circuit more often.

Happy Birthday, Virg!

I had speaks today with an old friend.  It was good to hear his voice.  Virgil Ragland turned 51 today.  I got there in March.  Virgil was in the first class I attended at North Harrison in the 6th grade.  He camped out at first base when we played kickball and that was tough on me.  That was my territory in Brownstown, first base.  Virg didn’t give an inch and I respected him for it.

How many rainbows I threw to Virgil out on the football field.  I could throw it more 60 yards and he loved to catch it.  He did not, however, have my arm.  One reason I stayed in as good a shape as I did back them was the running up I did to haul in Virg’s toss.  Didn’t care.  That is just the way it was.  I had the option not to throw it so far.  I wanted to sling it as far as I could for as long I could and Virg liked to haul in those heaves .  40 yards is a nice toss for me these days.  The field seems a little bigger these days.  Whether I am throwing the ball or kicking it, I just can’t cover the territory like I once did.  Oh well.  I am still very thankful.

Virg and I coached some football together in another life.  That was fun.  He, like me, still appreciates the gridiron endeavors.  Today he told me a story about playing a touch game recently with his church youth group.  In fact, as Virg reports, the rutabaga has helped to increase attendance on Wednesday nights.  Amen to that!

Thank you, Virg.  You have been a good friend and you are doing great work.

Old number 88 still has it!

Speaking the rights…

Danny Johnson

Well, here we are.  Middle July and school is just around the corner.  This is a good thing.

I can do without the hot weather I can tell you.  I am not a great fan.  Sun burn is an evil thing, don’t you think?

Oh well, we shall press onward.

Twenty years ago today John Kennedy Jr. died in a plane crash.  Wonder what would have happened had he lived?  I would like to think we would not have a House of Representatives meeting today that looks and sounds like he said she said and liar liar pants on fire.

What the hell are we teaching kids anyway?

Stay silent when you know it is best to speak up for what is right?  That is not the answer.  Political crickets GOP style.

I get asked why I am as hard on the Republicans as I am.  It is easy for me.  I am a Republican.  I just expect more.  The high road rarely goes down Main Street.  1600 Pennsylvania Ave. is nowhere near the high road these days.

If the president knew how to act we would never know about these four freshmen congresswomen getting a limelight they should not be getting but are thanks to a president who can’t get his stuff together.

He can play footsie and fall in love with dictators.  That is easy.

He can tweet and call people names.  That is easy.

He has yet to lead.  Take a look around.

Speaking the rights.

Danny Johnson

Jeff Lynne is the brainchild behind a musical movement that is so unique it has a genre all to itself.  Call it ELO and it moves from a tall hill into a valley and back we all have heard it resonate whether we like or not.  I like it.

Be it in a coffee commercial that features Ken Anderson the old Bengals quarterback sipping at a cup whilst watching game film with the ELO song Hold On Tight To Your Dreams playing or listening to the song Sweet Talkin’ Woman and looking at the one next to you and you both say, “That was a pool song when we were kids!” ELO tunes are never too far away.

Two great things my dear wife, Carrie, and I will probably never see again happen this past Wednesday.  And it almost did not happen.  One, we stood in the middle of Nashville’s iconic Broadway packed with music venues and honky tonks.

I have seen this road closed during the NFL Draft and during the Music City Bowl Parade of Bands, though only on television.  I was shocked we got to walk down the middle of the thing.

The other was seeing Jeff Lynne’s ELO at a sold out and rocking Bridgestone Arena.

No, I did not take this picture.

I took these.

It was a wonderful show that nearly did not happen for us.

I had a facebook post ready to go.  This it was in front of me along with a short narrative explaining that Carrie and I would not be going.

I was going to offer these tickets as a Merry Christmas to the first to contact me.  When I made the would be post I was talking to my Mother on the Telephone Line.  As I was about to press “Share” I told my Mom to hang on.  The stereo speakers I had turned down in an obligatory manner before I called my Mom had a faint sound I needed to turn up for some reason.  The song playing was ELO’s  Don’t Bring Me Down.  That was that.

A weakness from British Rockers is in my soul.  Listening to Jeff Lynne and his merry men and women play the tightest most precise music I have ever heard in my life was a pure joy.  Carrie and I both agreed it was one of those soundtrack of you life concerts like a Billy Joel or Elton John show.

Lending to the 71 year-old Jeff Lynne’s modest stage presence, the 18,000 or so in attendance gave polite applause and never went too crazy with it.  The English gent never asked for anything.  He just delivered the goods and humbly stepped up to the mic on occasion to say thank you.  That was refreshing.

Jeff Lynne’s ELO Nashville setlist

Standin’ in the Rain

Evil Woman

All Over the World

Showdown

Do Ya

When I Was a Boy

Handle With Care (with Dhani Harrison)

Rockaria!

Last Train to London

Xanadu

10538 Overture

Shine a Little Love

Wild West Hero

Sweet Talkin’ Woman

Telephone Line

Don’t Bring Me Down

Turn to Stone

Mr. Blue Sky

Roll Over Beethoven

Yes, listening to George Harrison’s son sing lead on The Traveling Wilbury’s song Handle With Care was nice.  Dhani Harrison, who was the show’s opening act, did a great job.

My favorite song was not played.  I was not disappointed.  Too much goodness for that.

Each time I walk along mid-calf deep in a piece of the Atlantic Ocean that is special to Carrie and me I sing it to myself: