The
Dartnel
May 26, 2006
Obviously, the “two
entries this week” thing last week failed to pan out. Sorry, folks.
I was sick. Unfortunately for
you, that means two Words of the
Week. We’ll start off with…
Last Week’s Word of the Week: moribund – adj. meaning 1. In a dying state; dying; at the
point of death; 2. Becoming
obsolete or inactive (pronounced MOR-uh-bund)
First off, I’d like
to thank you for your unwavering devotion to the Dartnel. Over the past year and a half, we’ve had a
lot of fun, with a handful of serious moments sprinkled in for good taste. Now, let me speak in all seriousness. Every last one of you who has visited my
website in the past 17 months is at risk of being associated with a complete
loon. I have terrible memory
problems. I take my glasses off so I can
blow my nose, and then I forget where I left my glasses! I filled in as Sunday School teacher a couple
of weeks ago and had to turn around and go back home because I forgot my
teaching materials! There are times I still
think it’s 2005! My immediate memory is
a disaster. Of course, if something
makes it past that roadblock, I tend to remember it forever. Just one of life’s little blessings, I guess.
Today’s uplifting
thought from the Dartman: I’ve got the
music scales down! Every Good Boy Does Fine. FACE. Lines and spaces, in that order. Of course, I don’t actually know what the
notes are supposed to sound like, and
I’m singing off the lower scale, so I’m probably still in trouble.
This week, I’ve
been involved in my church’s
I am still looking
for work. Since I only have access to a
car during late afternoon, it kind of makes job searching an even bigger
hassle. I know I have to find something soon.
I turn 27 next month, and I’ve been out of NSU for three and a half
years now. Besides, I have to
repair/replace my car, which is now a 3,000-pound doghouse. That’s about the sum of things going on with
me.
Now, for this week’s…
Word of the Week: variegated – adj. meaning 1. Having marks or patches of
different colors; as, "variegated leaves or flowers"; 2. Varied;
distinguished or characterized by variety; diversified (pronounced VAIR-ee-uh-gay-tid)
We’re finished here, for now!
Darrell
May 16, 2006
In what will
probably be the first of two entries this week, I will discuss something that
happened last Sunday.
Last Sunday, May 14,
I had the pleasure and the privilege of attending the Rheem Classic golf
tournament at Hardscrabble Country Club in
The final round
itself was exciting, with lead changes, birdies, bogies, groans, moans, cheering,
and celebrating galore. (From here on
out I’m assuming you have a passing familiarity with golf. If you don’t, feel free to check out the
mindless drivel posted above and below.)
The tournament went to a play-off between Stiles and Michael Putman. Putman could have won had he been able to get
up and down from a bunker in back of the 18th green, behind which I
was sitting in a corporate skybox. I had
a great look. About three feet or so
behind his ball, there was a leaf that had fallen from a tree. I don’t think it had much bearing on the
shot, but you never know. It didn’t seem
like too difficult a shot to me, except for the fact that the tournament was on
the line. Putman blasted out to about 30
feet beyond the hole. I assume that his
nerves got the better of him. Stiles won
with a par on the first extra hole, from the same bunker that Putman had had
trouble with earlier. Putman had placed
his ball in a different bunker this time, left of where I was sitting. (READ: right greenside bunker) He had eight feet to force a second playoff
hole, but he missed. I felt rotten for
him.
If you’ve never
been to Hardscrabble, don’t try to walk the course if you’re not in good
shape. Who in their right mind builds a
golf course on the hilliest part of
I had an enjoyable
time at Hardscrabble. The weather was
mild, and the golf was spectacular. If
any of you golf fans ever have an opportunity to see a golf tournament in
person, take it. One word of
advice: Do NOT bring your cell phone.
First of all, you’re not supposed to bring it onto the course to begin
with. Tour rules. Second, it’s aggravating to the pros to hear
one of those ring tones go off during their backswing. It has to be, because it’s aggravating to me
as a spectator to be watching the tournament and be distracted by a cell phone
ringer. I wouldn’t bring a camera
either. Tour pros tend to flinch when
they hear a camera going off during their backswing. If you have to take pictures, and if the
course will even allow cameras on the
course, don’t take a snapshot while one of the professionals is hitting the
ball.
Thank you for your
patronage.
Darrell
May 10, 2006
Brief Entry
Dear Dartnel,
I just wanted to
drop you a line as to how I'm doing. I
am doing just swell. I could do without
your insipid "Word of the Week" e-mail, but other than that, I'm
fine.
You wouldn't
believe some of what's been going on in my life! I had the strangest dream last night. I had amnesia and was dating a woman from my
past. This woman, although she held my
hand, didn't seem all that thrilled to be dating me. I was driving my old red car, which had
apparently been repaired during my amnesic period. Although I was older, evidently my younger
brother had regressed in age. He was now
11 or so, I would guess. He also
disappeared mysteriously, kind of like Richie's older brother in Happy Days. I've thought about it, and I've decided that
this woman is either a subconscious manifestation of my own feelings towards
myself or an amalgam of every woman I've ever met. Let's face it; I just don't have that much
experience with romance.
I did some singing
a week ago Sunday night. Once again,
some smartaleck turned the light off on me.
Next time, I'm launching into "Turn Out the Lights!" Actually, I have a better plan. I'm singing "I Saw the Light" next
time! I've become a running gag at my
own church! Ah, well, at least this way,
they don't notice my sub par singing.
Did you know that I no longer know which notes go on which lines/spaces
of the music scale? Something tells me
I'd be a decent low tenor if I could actually read music.
Dartnel, I've come
up with a Word of the Week. Tell me what
you think.
Word of the Week: amalgam - n. meaning 1. An alloy
of mercury with another metal or metals; used especially (with silver) as a
dental filling; 2. A mixture or compound of different things (pronounced
uh-MAL-guhm)
Well, this was
tedious. I hope you enjoyed reading
about all my thoughts. Please do not
publish these on your website.
Sincerely yours,
Darrell