Travelers Championship at the TCP in Cromwell, Connecticut

These pictures have nothing to do with the up and coming blog, but they are purdy!

The “Spectacular” Finish of the Travelers

These were the words of the sports announcers on TV today which we were watching the Travelers Championship. This event has been running more than fifty years. It has been called “The Insurance City Open” and “Greater Hartford Open.” It has had attached to its name the likes of Sammy Davis, Jr., Canon, and Buick. This tournament has survived name and sponsorship changes on a regular basis. But the important thing is that it has survived. I don’t often watch golf, but this tournament is a bit closer to me than most.

I guess if I were to pick a favorite professional golfer, it would be Phil “Lefty.” Lefty does not usually play in this tournament. Another favorite, one who has played fairly regularly in Cromwell (the current venue for this tournament—the TCP in Cromwell, CT), is Scott Verplank. Why would I pick Mr. Verplank, you ask! Well, in watching him play today an old memory surfaced.

All the insurance companies in the area are sponsors of one sort or another. My “company” sponsored the eighteenth hole. The tournament includes a Pro-Am (or a day for celebs) Day. All the companies ask for volunteers to work their sponsored area. At one time, it was a paid day, but probably not any more. Several changes have been made in this phase too. At one time, you could pick one, two or all the days. Then, one would only get a day off if one were to work at least one of the weekend days as well. Now, probably it would cost one to participate…I don’t know.

In 2001 I was working as a temp for a large insurance company in the area (not Travelers). The Open was approaching; so I volunteered for the day with the celebs. Well, not too many well known people participated that year. (When Sammy Davis was participating, loooooots of celebrities came).

In volunteering, one had to buy one’s own golf shirt (I still have mine). We also hadto get to the golf course reallllllllly early in the morning. The first person I saw that I knew was our local weatherman—Scott Haney. Wow, who else might I see!  I am not one to be particularly excited over celebrities.  I actually prefer sport personalities to other types (music, movies, etc).  Several former UCONN alumni who now played in the NBA shared the golf course with their golfing professional counterparts.  They were fun to see.

My job was to be crowd control. They gave me one of the “QUIET” signs to use when golfers were about to put the club to the ball. Next to me was Vinnie who recognized my OES ring. He was a member as well. I sorta recognized him, but did not really know him. We got to be quick close friends.

Governor John Rowland was one of those playing with the professional golfers…two amateurs and two professionals in each group—obviously, a foursome. Governor Rowland whacked the ball from the mid fairway which had been his first hit right smack into the hole in front of me. This was kind of exciting!  But, as it turned out, he was probably the most well known amateur playing. Oh, well!

As the day moved along, a golfer hit a ball into the rough between Vinnie and me. It was hit by none other than Scott Verplank. This was not yet “tournament” play, but Scott did something that we did not expect. He asked if either of us were golfers. I am not. Vinnie said he sort of played at it. Scott offered to let Vinnie use his club and asked if he would like to send it unto the green. Vinnie was so excited that he almost missed hitting the ball. We talked about that moment for a very long time. I do not see Vinnie much any more, but it is always a “remember when” moment.

I know that Mr. Verplank has had some health problems over the years and has not played a lot. But, this year while watching him on TV, at the fifteenth hole, he lifted the ball out of the bunker with a beautiful swing that put it into the hole, I came out of my seat. Great shot!

The regulation game ended in a three way tie and my boy Scott was one of them—C. Pavin, B. Watson, and Scott Verplank. I make a lot of noise when a sporting event excites me. I was yelling (did not have my QUIET sign close by) from my chair cheering for him. It did not help. Bubba was the final victor after two holes of sudden death.

I am happy to see Scott playing so well, however. And, I am blessed with the memory of a generous man who made another person so very happy. Thank you, Scott. Best wishes for upcoming tournaments.

 

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

I have not been very good about keeping up to date in June. So, I have some unfinished business…

The repaving of our road and a couple of others is done. Most of the roads in this neighborhood are dirt and will remain that way. They are graded regularly, but we have a brand new road. Hip, HIP, HOORAY!

The CENSUS—I have been on a hiatus for a couple of weeks. Start again with a training class for the next portion on Thursday. The last training class was primarily held in a Presbyterian Church. This training session is going to be held in a Baptist Church. Although the Constitution says nothing about the separation of church and state, the ACLU has long made a point of that separation. Bet they could make a big deal out of this too.  We actually had a lawsuit in Florida (of course) over a polling place.  In Florida much of our polling places are churches or religious centers.  The voting takes place in the fellowship halls.  (In Connecticut most of the voting takes place in schools ).  Some idiot sued over this practise.  Can't get much dumber as far as I am concerned.

Speaking of the Constitution, the census, of course, is required by it…Article I, Section 2, Paragraph 3. In the several weeks which doing the job, I carried a copy of this document in my briefcase. My friends teased me that I was probably the only enumerator in the entire US who so did.

But, I will say that I did drag  out my copy of that great document a couple of times:

One person said that she “did not wish to participate.” My reply was that it was the law and in the Constitution. She asked her husband, “Bobby, is it the law?” I dragged out my copy and asked her if she wanted to read it. She declined the opportunity to read it, but did give me some minimal information.

When another man was giving me a hard time, I explained to him that it was in the Constitution. He argued about what it said. I offered to let him read it. He refused to speak to me after that. A neighbor “proxied” the necessary information…nah-nee, nah-nee, nah-nah. I had “met” the neighbor by phone as she responded to my “while you were out” notice and told me about several snowbird houses. This one guy was not a snowbird, so I had to go back and try to talk to him. The neighbor was walking. This is an area where there is NO traffic (only the snowbirds and these two neighbors). So, I stopped the car and introduced myself and she babbled very nicely the information I needed.

I find it interesting that neither wanted to see the “proof.” But, I had it there for them. As I mentioned, my friends had a field day at my expense because I carried it. I mentioned this to my group. Our CL thought it would have been a good idea for every single enumerator across the county to carry it. But, like so many things in this census, hindsight is…(well, you know the rest). The thing is there should not be any “hindsights” in this census. It is the 23rd time we have done one in this country. You’d think we would have gotten it correct by now.

They tell us that this was supposed to be the first “fully automated” census. Last year in address collection, we had HHC (hand-held computers) made in Taiwan. I had a mental problem with using foreign made computers to do a US census. I thought that was only my opinion, but since we went back to old manual way of using paper maps and books, I guess I was not the only one who saw the problem. My cousin, the accountant, said that they went with the cheapest (which to him is a high compliment…go with the cheapest). But my response was, “Exactly!” Cheapest did not get the job done! Concept, good; product, junk.

I have enjoyed doing the work. I really like the job! Met lots of great people. Learned much.  Had fun!  (Is a job really supposed to be fun!!!???? Yeah, I think so.

WATERMELON SEASON

Watermelon Season is Here

Early June brings the local watermelon season. It lasts between three and four weeks. Along with the growing melons, an army convoy of school busses with their drivers and families arrive. The wonderful people who pick our fruits and vegetables on the way to our tables make this time of the year very traditional, indeed.   Summer and Watermelon!

Most of the busses are unique. Many have the window are cut out. Some have the entire back cut out. Last year I had planned to take pictures of the busses, but they disappeared as quickly as they came. The grapevine eventually told me that they were on their way to their next picking area…Cordelle, GA—whose claim to fame is that they are the watermelon of the world. (I guess we like our titles…Ocala claims to be the horse racing capital, so why not a watermelon capital.)

This evening on my way to finish up some census stuff, I stopped at the local warehouse and center of action to grab a snapshot of the trucks. I ran into Rene, a wonderful man, hard working gentlemen. I asked if he would mind if I took pictures of the area. He said that was fine. His entire family were working. He told me that his son was a chef, but helped pick during various seasons. Rene’s favorite pickin’s apparently is Delaware blueberries. They pick and pack from sunup to sundown. And, all we have to do is go to the grocery to get those yummy round seedless melons.

Steve had just mentioned to me today that he wondered where they were grown. We have never seen a watermelon plant, but there are hundreds of boxes waiting to be filled and shipped. Rene offered to show Steve and me the watermelon fields some evening next week. I may just take him up on that. Thanks, Rene, for the offer and wonderful information that you provided.