One of my favorite book reviews. The review of "The House at Pooh Corner" written by Dorothy Parker
Fun phrases like "And it is that word “hummy,” my darlings, that marks the first place in “The House at Pooh Corner” at which Tonstant Weader Fwowed up." www.newyorker.com/magazine/1928/10/20/far-from-well
0 Comments
Anyone can see a pretty girl. An artist can look at a pretty girl and see the old woman she will become. A better artist can look at an old woman and see the pretty girl she used to be. A great artist can look at an old woman, portray her exactly as she is . . . and force the viewer to see the pretty girl she used to be . . . more than that, he can make anyone with the sensitivity of an armadillo see that this lovely young girl is still alive, prisoned inside her ruined body. He can make you feel the quiet, endless tragedy that there was never a girl born who ever grew older than eighteen in her heart . . . no matter what the merciless hours have done. Look at her, Ben. Growing old doesn't matter to you and me—but it does to them. Look at her!
- Robert Heinlein, Stranger in a Strange Land What a great quote about age and beauty! As I have played sports over the years, I have found myself forming a small set of checks that I use to evaluate my form. I especially use these to solve issue when I am struggling. This list evolves over time. For example, recently playing a tournament in the Dallas area with my friend A Ray I was able to address a major flaw in my game through application of his advice. I have a problem where I don't get a good weight shift and leave too much weight on the back foot. This can result in insufficient rotation where I leave everything to the right or an actual spin where I grip lock and throw significantly to the right. Now knowing whether your next throw will be off way to the left or the right does not build confidence on the tee, Talking and watching A Ray reminded me to start the throw with a hip rotation which results in helping the weight shift and fixes this particular issue.
Things I use to check my drive: * 1-2-3 Kick - Reminds me to do a controlled 3 step approach with a kick of the back foot to complete the weight shift. This really helps me with tempo as well. * 1-2-3-Hip-Kick - I am adjusting the simple the 1-2-3 Kick to include starting the throw with the hip. This helps me incredibly with weight shift and adds power to my drives since I am shifting momentum from the larger body parts to the smaller body part just a great pitcher does throwing the fastball. * Walk around the disc - This reminds me practice the 3 step approach with the disc remaining close to motionless. When I start reaching back my weight overshifts backwards past the point of no return. It also reminds me about the height and plane of the throw. Things I use to check my putt: * Aim with disc - I like to stand at my putt and hold the disc in front of me at the point where I would like to release it. At the same time I pick a chain link to focus on. During the putt my motion is focused on returning to that point. * Warm up at 15 feet - Check form and flight of disc on a very make-able putt. * Kick - Reminds me to check my back foot. Putting requires a slight weight shift forward. Its easier to do a steady putt when the weight shift adds some of the momentum. This allows you to keep the arm motion consistent between short and long putts. To kick your bac kfoot and balance requires a good weight shift. * Start with a bend of the knees (like a curtsy) - This keeps my form solid. I sometimes start rocking back and forth instead of shifting my weight forward. A slight knee bend reinforces proper weight shifting. A follow up to all of this is that I don't think of all of this during each shot. I think of it before the shot. I use it to check form when I start spraying shots. During each shot I try to keep my mind quiet and keep one focus. Right now that is start with the hip on the drives and the knee bend on the putts. But I have to practice practice so that this all becomes natural. A favorite of mine by the wonderful Erma Bombeck.
Dear First Born, Dear Middle Born, To my Baby Dear First Born I've always loved you best because you were our first miracle. You were the genesis of a marriage and the fulfillment of young love. You sustained us through the hamburger years, the first apartment, our first mode of transportation (1955 Feet), and the seven-inch TV we paid on for 36 months. You were new, had unused grandparents, and enough clothes for a set of triplets. You were the original model for a mom and dad who were trying to work the bugs out. You got the strained lamb, the open safety pins and three-hour naps. You were the beginning! Dear Middle Born I've always loved you the best because you drew a tough spot in the family and it made you stronger for it. You cried less, had more patience, wore faded hand-me-downs, and never in your life did anything first. But it only made you more special. You were the one we relaxed with, who helped us realize a dog could kiss you and you wouldn't get sick. You could cross a street by yourself long before you were old enough to get married. And you helped us understand the world wouldn't collapse if you went to bed with dirty feet. You were the child of our busy, ambitious years. Without you, we never could have survived the job changes and the tedium and routineness that is marriage. To My Baby I've always loved you best because while endings are generally sad, you are such a joy!! You readily accepted the mild-stained bibs, the lower bunk, the cracked baseball bat, the baby book that had nothing written in it except a recipe for graham-cracker piecrust that someone had jammed between the pages. You are the one we held on to so tightly. You darken our hair, quicken our steps, squared our shoulders, restored our vision, and give us a sense of humor that security, maturity, and durability can't provide. When your hairline takes on the shape of Lake Erie and your own children tower over you, you will still be our baby!!! |
AuthorI am the Author. ArchivesCategories |