June 27th - Eagle Harbor Team Practice

I seldom take photos at the golf course, seems like I have taken thousands in the past. This was sweet with Daddy and Daughter:

AA had her 6-month dental check up and near the end of the appointment, they lost power! At least she got her teeth cleaned and they pulled her last baby tooth!

Perfect Days by AA

During the drive to and from the U.S. Kids Golf Florida State Tournament, AA asked her Daddy what would be a perfect day for him, just one day.
Ford said the thought about it and said he and family, one day in Paris, going to the Louvre.
Not knowing this conversation, she asked me when they arrived home, what would be a perfect day for me and I said family all boating and swimming on Little Sebago Lake.

AA was animated telling us what her perfect day would be and that she had thought of three perfect days!
First was to have all her friends together, having fun, everyone getting along and no shouting (!!).
Second was to go to Yellowstone National Park, traveling with a friend or with family like Aunt Carolyn. Third perfect day was to be in China, walking the Great Wall, beginning to rain and a local family invites us all to their home for shelter. There is a boy, who we discover is her twin brother who has a pet dog, that was part wolf; this is her biological parents home!
May her perfect days all come true!

A few facts about her perfect days:
Yellowstone National Park is a nearly 3,500-sq.-mile wilderness recreation area atop a volcanic hot spot. Mostly in Wyoming, the park spreads into parts of Montana and Idaho too. Yellowstone features dramatic canyons, alpine rivers, lush forests, hot springs and gushing geysers, including its most famous, Old Faithful. It's also home to hundreds of animal species, including bears, wolves, bison, elk and antelope. Roosevelt Area - Tower: Hike to Tower Fall: The 132-foot drop of Tower Creek, framed by eroded volcanic pinnacles has been documented by park visitors from the earliest trips of Europeans into the Yellowstone region. Its idyllic setting has inspired numerous artists, including Thomas Moran. His painting of Tower Fall played a crucial role in the establishment of Yellowstone National Park in 1872. The nearby Bannock Ford on the Yellowstone River was an important travel route for early Native Americans as well as for early European visitors and miners up to the late 19th century.

China:
“An adoptee’s curiosity about one’s past is not a rejection of one’s present nor a sign of unhappiness or dysfunction. It’s exploring what should be the adoptee’s already — knowledge of one’s personal history and family members.” – Tara Vanderwoude, Social worker, advocate, educator

Here is a link to one story describing the steps to take before going to China.
The Great Wall of China: A Chinese government survey found that the wall measures 13,170.6956 miles, or 21,196.18 km, the Xinhua report said. Only 8.2 percent of the wall built during the Ming Dynasty remains intact, and 74.1 percent of the wall is in poor condition. A significant amount of the wall has collapsed, the Xinhua report said.

U.S. Kids Golf Florida States

AA played in the Florida State golf competition.

Ms. Penny came and watched AA play on Sunday! AA had her best round that day!

Score table:

Greeted an old friend and Kiddie Caddie Maria!

Final Scores:

June - Summer is Here!

So hot, typical Florida summer. We melt during the day, especially at work and the family on the golf course. Lots of afternoon thunder showers that hit or miss us 50% of the time.
This past week, we went to the zoo on Monday and then the River House; Thursday AA had a play-date with the Collins twins at their house, then some play time at the Weigand's.
Friday was golf practice and all of a sudden, the U.S. Kids Golf State tournament is here! AA had two practice rounds at the LPGA course, so hoping for some low scores - that's what we always expect!
Jane and AA in the back seat, going to the zoo!

We are here! Bright sun and hot!

Strolled through the dinosaur trail first:

Asian Garden:

We had tacos for lunch and cooled off. Campground Critter show:

They like climbing on everything:

The giraffe encounter:

They each fed the giraffe:

Snacks - Churros and ice cream for AA:

Too hot, I don't think they enjoyed as much as going in the spring. Never again in the summer!

Happy Father's Day!! Leaa Hosted Brunch!

Leaa along with Christa and Nicole, hosted a huge brunch for the Dad's on Sunday. Pancakes, quiche, fruit, biscuits, sausage and gravy, bacon, etc.... All good! Nicole and Jordan, plus girls, Cathy and Werner, Christa and Stu, Justin and Kilee, plus us.
Werner, Jesse, Justin, Jordan and Grand Poppy Ford!

Photos of the youngest Grands: Dylan, Mila and Avery:

After we arrived home, I took a nap, walked the dog then we all jumped in the pool at 7:00 p.m. beautiful time to swim, the pool was empty and the sun was not brutal!

SJRPP Cooling Towers Implosion 06/16/18

The first major milestone met in the demolition of JEA's St. Johns River Power Park. Working most of my career there, it was not an expected action to shut down this plant. Not mothballing, actually decommissioning it and total demolish! I am happy to be on the working team, very rewarding as far as project management goes.
Photo: Alan E., Brad C., Matt G., very back Scott L., me, Bruce K. and Robert S.. There are many other former SJRPP employees who current work on the Demolition team who were supporting the VIP area (L. Pinkstaff (JEA) Calvin H. and Marvin W.), several inthe VIP area (Travis G.) plus a few who chose to stay at home: L. Bradley, S. Pollock, B. Griffis, C. Lee, B. McCranie, TJ D.

Waiting to sign in at the Command center:

Last look at the cooling towers before we went to the limestone look-out area, the CT dust suppression was working.

Before with units running:

Total Wrecking's sign on Unit 2:

The Aftermath; Unit 1:

After Unit 2

Camera on top of Landfill (A) II:

NFJG Dr. Ira at Hyde Park June 13/14

AA isn't playing many NFJG tournaments this summer, rather concentrating on the distances for the U.S. Kids Florida State and the World's Tournaments. She played the Dr. Ira as it is a Donald Ross course which is usually challenging. She "played better than her score showed" per her Daddy Caddie on Round 1. She was having an amazing Round 2 until Holes 14 and 15. 

Round 1

Round 2 with Kylee Turner's Mom:

Scores for Today's Round (view full scorecard): 

Hole	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	OUT
Par	4	4	4	3	5	3	4	4	5	36
Score	4	5	5	3	5	3	6	4	5	40

Hole	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	IN
Par	5	3	4	4	5	4	3	4	4	36
Score	6	3	5	4	7	8	3	4	5	45

Eagle      Birdie      Bogey      Dbl Bogey

From Director Jack Aschenbach:
The Rising Tour Girls Would result in St. Augustine’s Apryl Parker taking the gold trophy with her fine play of 81-85. This would be Parker’s first Web.com Junior Players Tour win. Jacksonville’s Thanya Arasu would be the Runner up with a total score of 169.
In the Boys 10-12 Division Phillip Dunham would be the champion with his fine play, but Nolan Harper would keep Dunham on his toes with his outstanding play. Harper would put together two outstanding rounds of one over par 73’s to take the Runner up spot. He would post up one under par scores on the front nine both days.

Miscellaneous - June

I ordered some of Molly's homemade rings:

Mom's visit to Evergreen Cemetery:

A photo from Joy's Missouri Trip:

SJRPP Retirement Announcement: The Cooling Tower Implosion Invitation June 16, 2018:

AA and I went to see the movie Hans Solo. She saw it first with Carolyn over Memorial Day weekend, we went to the IMAX theater on Monday, June 11th. 

It was a good movie, always a bit more action than I care for but overall, typical Star Wars with many unbelievable fights and escapes! We had to wait about 45 minutes as a horrible storm passed by, winds to blow over golf carts, lightning strikes and booming thunder! We made it to the River House in time for hot-dog happy hour with Maureen, Hugh, Kathy and Penny.
AA had her second Math lesson with Mr. Story, then a practice round at Hyde Park.