The New Year

I've never really cared much for the New Year's Eve and New Year's Day celebrations. Too much forced merriment in the former and cold, grey blahs on the latter.

So this year, Ken and I escaped all of that by taking a short golf vacation to Crystal River, Florida. We stayed at the Plantation Inn Golf Resort and Spa. Beautiful spot and lots of fun golf. Ken's sister, brother and their spouses are staying at a nearby campground, so we were able to play several rounds with our brother-in-law Tom and had dinner with the group at a different place every night.

I played pretty well, considering I haven't touched a club since Nov. 4. We played the 9-hole executive course several times, the front 9 on the 18-hole course once and the whole 18-hole course once. I played one stroke better than my best at Lost Lake, if that gives you any idea. By the last day, I was even making some good 12- to 15-foot putts. THAT was fun! Lots of water was in play, so we lost several balls every day. Good way to clean out all those old, yucky battered balls.

The wildlife was incredible. Next time, I am taking the Roger Tory Peterson field guide to birds, because there were so many we don't know. We also saw a big turtle in one of the water hazards and a small alligator.

Returned to work this morning feeling refreshed and energized. I guess I have found my favorite way to see in the new year.