Shoulder Update

As most of you know, I have been battling a bad left shoulder for several years. In the past year, it has become incredibly more painful when I play golf or try to lift anything above my head. I was first diagnosed with an impingement in my shoulder blade and rotator cuff. I went through a few weeks of physical therapy and did my exercises at home, but did not feel it was any better. It may have even been worse.

I went back to my orthopedic yesterday and I think we have finally pin pointed the problem. Bicipital Tendonitis. In the picture below, my pain is exactly where the line points to for the tendon of the biceps muscle. The tendon stretches over the ball at the top of the humerus, in a notch call the Bicipital Groove (I like that name...sounds funky). This is where the problem lies. Physical therapy will not help this. The doctor gave me a cortisone shot right into the tendon. Apparently, this has been going on for so long, the anti-inflammatory medicine I am on is unable to decrease the inflammation. However, the shot has greatly increased my range of motion and decreased my day to day pain. I haven't tried a golf swing yet, but I am going to wait a week or so until I attempt a practice swing. Hopefully, the medicine can now maintain the tendon.

I have been told not to play golf for a couple of weeks to give the shot a chance to work. It takes a few weeks for all the inflammation to subside. Here is hoping for the best. If not, I am moving up to the gold tees with Pop.

The Open

My favorite golf major to watch on TV started this morning. I awoke at 4:30am to watch a few hours of the Open Championship before I went to work. Every year for four days in July, I wake up early, head to the couch with some breakfast and watch golf, occasionally dozing off while doing so.

The reason it is my favorite to watch is the combination of a few things. First, I love I get to wake up and watch golf early and still have the whole in ahead of me. Second, it is a different type of golf course and game than we watch week in and week out on the tour, including the majors. I have always loved links style golf and watching the players battle wind and rain makes it even more fun. I love the pot bunkers, the tall golden Rye and Fescue grass, the old buildings and clubhouse and even the bagpipe bumper music they play during the telecast. Plus, I think watching them play golf in July while wearing sweaters helps me forget how hot it is outside.

Enjoy the Open if you plan on watching. If not, what is wrong with you?

Frolio's

After leaving Audubon tonight, Julie and I stopped by Frolio's on Poplar Level Road and Trevilian Way. I have driven by Frolio's hundreds of times over the years, but I only vaguely remember going there when I was younger with the family. The pizza place has been open for 27 years and the only thing that has changed is the sign out front.

We were the only one in there most of the time and the young lady waiting on us for very nice. However, I don't think the food was all that great. It will do in a pinch if you are craving pizza, but it may be another 27 years until I go back.

Day Lilies

Here a a couple pictures of our day lilies in the backyard before they succumbed to 106 degree temperatures.

Julie & Leonard

Taken at Derby City ComicCon. It's a cut-out, if for some reason you couldn't tell.

Hurry Up, George!

I ran across this and remembered what Mark said about George R. R. Martin. I am glad I have waited to read these. Hopefully he will get to the last book.

100 Yards and In

As I mentioned in the previous post, I feel more comfortable with my golf swing, except for the shoulder pain, than I have in a very long time. However, I have been focusing primarily on my short game the past several weeks. At lunch, I often go to Seneca and putt, hit bunker shots and work around the green. Squaring the club face and having my hands slightly ahead at address has not only helped my long game, but makes my pitching and chipping much more consistent. Instead of my arms trying to control the face angle, it frees me up to simply take the club back and through with a solid downward strike.

I applied this same logic to my putting. Using a straight board, I discovered my putter was also open at address. I have squared the club face and moved my hands ever so slightly ahead of the ball at address. This has given me a much more solid, consistent strike on the ball allowing for more consistency in my distance control. Squaring the club face also puts me in a position where I feel the putter face is easier to control back and through, taking the uneasiness out of shorter putts. I feel if I miss a putt now, it is due to a bad read and not a bad strike, push or pull. My misses are much closer, and that is worth a lot.

All This Blogging Is Wearing Me Out!

I know you must be sick of all my posts by now, but I can't help it. Hopefully you can keep up.

For those of you unable to devote the time needed to the fast paced world that is BuckleB, let's review:

Golf: I have played a little golf this year. Not as much as I want, but more than I have been. It has been a relatively successful year so far. I have only failed to break 80 in one round (that I can think of). I have also won $100 in a closest to the Pin contest in a scramble.

My left shoulder has been giving me more issues this year and has made playing golf to be a rather painful experience. The good news is that my rotater cuff does not seem to be torn (at least this is what the doctor thinks without and MRI). I do have an impingement in my cuff and some tendonitis with minor nerve irritation causing my elbow to hurt and my left pinkie to go numb. I am going through physical therapy to help strengthen my upper back and increase my range of motion to help take the stress off my shoulder. I also talked with a local golf pro who, upon looking at my set-up, informed me he thought I was standing too far from the ball, thus putting more strain on that shoulder on the takeaway. Makes sense. I have stepped a couple inches closer and have been pleased with the results. I was also told my clubface is open at address. Both of these changes have helped me keep the ball flight down and make a more balanced swing and better strike on the ball. The only issue is trying to keep the ball from going too far left because of my strong grip. This is accomplished simply by maintaining my right wrist angle a bit longer and not allowing over rotation of the lower body causing me to flip my hands over. Like anything in golf, it all sounds like a lot to think about during the course of a 3 second swing, but it is very simple when put into action.

I am playing Seneca on Friday with Jeff, Jeff's Dad and family friend Paul. It's a fun group. Saturday for Jeff's bachelor party, we have three groups playing at Chariot's Run in Indiana. Should be very hot, but fun.

Books: I am almost done reading The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. There is a sequel I am looking forward to reading, but the name escapes me at the moment. I was getting nervous. With only 70 pages left out of a 661 page book, I felt like he had way too much to wrap up. Good to know the story of Kvothe isn't over.

I probably won't jump into the sequel right away. I want to finish the book on the Civil War and maybe the last book of the Hunger Games trilogy.

Derby City ComicCon: Julie humored me and went to the Derby City ComicCon with me at the Convention Center Saturday afternoon (I didn't make her go...she wanted to!). One of the main reasons I wanted to go was the co-creator of The Walking Dead, Tony Moore, was supposed to be there. I wanted him to sign the first volume of the the graphic novel series, but when we came to his booth there was a sign on the table apologizing and that he was sick and could not attend. Bummer.

However, I did get to meet the creator and writer (Tim Seeley) of the graphic novel series Hack/Slash, a very graphic series about a scantily clad female vigilante seeking justice on those she feels deserve punishment. This is the only medium in which I enjoy this type of stuff...but even Julie found herself reading it in the car on the way home. I bought an Omnibus of the series...Tim signed the cover. The funny thing is that he got his start writing children's books.

Julie didn't walk away empty handed either. She bought an original colored pencil sketch of Archie, Jughead and Betty done by current writer Craig Boldman. He signed it to both uf us. It will be neat to have hanging in the house one day.

After the show, we had dinner at Smash Burger at 4th Street. It was tasty.

Misc: We have both been staying busy with the upcoming wedding plans (I am the best man and Julie is the Matron of Honour). We have had couples showers and parties filling our weekends. Plus it seems most of our family and friends have birthdays in July (including Julie).

Anyway, that is all for now. My goal is always to post more often, but time seems to keep getting away from me.

Dinosaur Lecture Clip for Pop

A Century of Plate Tectonics (Continental Drift Theory)

One hundred years ago, on January 6th, 1912, on of my favorite scientists, Alfred Wegener, presented his idea of continental drift to the public for the first time. Like many huge scientific discoveries, the initial idea was brilliant (and scoffed at), but the mechanics of it were not what they appeared. Through decades of exploration and research, Wegener's idea has been put into it's proper "context" and is now seen as the foundation for modern Plate Tectonics Theory. Even though his idea of what drove plate tectonics was flawed, Wegener's ideas opened a window into our understanding of seismology and vulcanology. It has helped explain many variables in paleontology, anthropology and the history of our planet, both ancient and recent. It even aides our understanding of other planets in our solar system.

Life's Little Reliefs or Pulled Over by a Chopper

There are plenty of instances in life where one experiences intense moments of anxiety, but then, for whatever reason, that fear is immediately alleviated. One of my reoccurring examples is waking up after having a dream that I had forgotten to go to class for the whole semester and it is the day of the final. It usually takes me a few seconds after I am awake to realize I have been out of college for awhile now and I have my diplomas to prove it. I flop my head back down on the pillow and exhale as I sink back into the bed.

Monday morning, I had another enormous exhale moment while driving down Murphy Lane. I was going my normal speed, just a few over the limit, when I heard a rapid thump, thump, thump sound. When I heard this, for some reason my brain also led me to believe my car was pulling hard to the right. Wonderful...a flat tire! I pulled onto a side street and onto an asphalt pad cutout on the side of the road. I open my door to get out and I hear a rapid "thump, thump, thump... I look up to see an Apache helicopter slowly flying overhead. I didn't really believe that was what I heard until I checked out all four tires. I looked up and watched it disappear behind the tree line, took a deep breath, and drove off a much relieved individual. However, this incident puts things in perspective. In the United States, I am relieved my car didn't have a flat and that it was the props on an Apache helicopter. In other countries, they are just relieved that the Apache helicopter overhead is not firing ammunition.

Current Reading

I haven't read much the past couple weeks, but I hope I can get back into it with some time off coming up. Also, it seems things are slowly beginning to get back to normal.

I am currently halfway through "The Pluto Files: The Rise and Fall of America's Favorite Planet" by Dr. Neil DeGrasse Tyson. I picked it up at Half-Price Books as I was trying to decide what to read next. I thought it would make good filler inbetween my "must reads." I heard a few years ago about the controversy surrounding the status of Pluto's planethood, but never new the motives behind the discussions. The book is very entertaining and enlightening.

Even more so than Carl Sagan, Tyson makes the book accessible to everyone and has written an interesting book, even if you have no more than a passing interest in planetary science. He does a great job of combining the history and discovery of Pluto, planetary science and funny, interesting anecdotes surrounding the planet and it's name.

I highly recommend it to anyone and I am more than willing to loan it out when I am done. It is a quick read as long as you are reading it and don't put it down for weeks like I have.

A Christmas Story

I found this video on Youtube discussing the common them among "chosen ones" and comparing them to Jesus. I have no idea how accurate this video is, but I think there is quite abit of truth in it, even if it is a stretch.

Top Five Favorite TV Shows

I struggled a bit trying to figure out what was allowed into this list and what doesn't qualify. First, it has to be a series that lasts more than one season (no mini-series or made for TV movies). Second, it can't be a news program of any type (CNN, Sportscenter, KSTV, etc). Again, these shows might not be academy award winners, but they are shows I can watch over and over again and still enjoy, so I need to have access to watch them (either they are on TV constantly or I have them on DVD). There are shows not on this list I currently watch and feel are better (i.e. The Walking Dead on AMC), but that's not what this list is about. Ask me next week and this list could be a bit different. Like comfort food, these are my comfort shows...in random order:

Seinfeld
http://youtu.be/BveKDWXqyRU

The Simpsons





Buffy the Vampire Slayer





Futurama


The Big Bang Theory

Top Tens (or Sometimes Fives)

For a long time I have been wanting to do some posts listing my favorites of this, that and the other. My criteria for these lists is pretty loose. If I were to do the lists at a different time, they may vary slightly. Simply understanding the value of something and realizing it may be the best of the best doesn't necessarily mean it will make the list. For example, I feel "Saving Private Ryan" is one of the best films I have ever seen, but it won't be in my top ten. My top ten movies will be movies I find myself watching over and over again because they provide me comfort, make me laugh or envoke some enjoyable reaction from me everytime I see it. The same goes for music or whatever else I decide to make a list about. Hopefully you'll learn a little more about Buckle B in the process.

Let's start off with music. Here is a list of Buckle B's Top Ten Favorite Bands/Musicians, in NO PARTICULAR ORDER:

Queen - Possibly the best harmonizing rock band of all time, no drive time in the car is waisted when you have a "Best of Queen" CD.

Amos Lee - This is the type of music I wish I could play. I have become a big fan of Amos Lee and hope he comes back to Louisville for a concert soon.


Blues Traveler - I first started listening to Blues Traveler when I was living in Colorado. We drove to Denver and bought standing room tickets outside the Paramount Theater. We stood right in front of the stage and I was "hooked." I wish I could play the harmonica like John Popper.


They Might Be Giants - Mark got me started on TMBG a long time ago and my fanship was reaffirmed driving to school in the mornings with a friend of mine who was a TMBG fan as well. It's hard to be in a bad mood when listening to them, although some of the lyrics are quite sad. Anyway, here is a happier song that may teach you something as well.


Jimmy Buffett - This Parrothead has been to several of his concerts and they are a blast. Anytime is a good time for a little Jimmy. I think the stories he tells in his music are some of the best in music.


Tom Waits - You either love his stuff or hate it. The bottom line is nobody's voice is like his and his songs evoke more emotion (not all pleasant) than anyone else I lsten to.


John Coltrane - Sometimes you just want everyone to shut up and let the music speak for itself. I often find myself saying, "it's a John Coltrane kind of day." I have several albums and he never disappoints.


The Grateful Dead - I seem to always forget about The Grateful Dead. Then I will put a few of their albums on and I'm always suprised how many great songs they have. They had a sound that I seem to constantly crave. Do they put weed in their music, too?


Barenaked Ladies - This is the most fun music on my list. Slightly odd and never taking themselves too seriously, even in ballads, Barenaked Ladies is another "must have ready to play at any moment."


Old 97's - A great southern rockabilly band that has a great sound, lyrics and style. My steering wheel has been drummed on a lot because of them. I hope my airbag still works.


As a footnote, I had a hard time leaving out Old Crow Medicine Show...I could easily swap them The Grateful Dead. Ask me next week...

The Buckle B Boost

My April 6th Masters post showed a picture of Darren Clarke standing in the fairway smoking a cigar. Three months later, he wins his first major ever at the age of 42.

This just shows that if you appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated, you're jinxed. If you appear on Buckle B's Blog, all your wildest dreams come true.

You're welcome Darren.

Round Number ???? for the Year

I played Nevel Meade Wednesday night with a few guys from the Bats. Recently, I began trying to eliminate the loopiness known as my backswing. I have always felt, except for a few small details, that I had a good swing in spite of my horrid takeaway. However, my backswing puts me in a hole and my body must do everything to compensate for me to make solid contact. Then if I do make solid contact, I must hold the face open to keep from hooking, causing a push, or I over correct and slam the club face shut causing a hook. It doesn't always work, which leads to a very inconsistent game. One of the teaching Pros at Hurstbourne told me years ago they new I had some talent just by being able to hit the ball using my backswing.

Over the past few years, I have tried to correct this problem by merely forcing the change with will power. This didn't work. Anytime I felt I was not fanning the club face open, I would watch a video of myself or someone would say, "hey, you swing like a Jim Furyk...without the talent."

I decided to tackle this problem the correct way. Through lots of reading, gathering of information and a series of drills. I feel I have finally turned the corner with my back swing, although it still requires more work, but the loopiness is more than half gone. I intend on bringing a mirror to the practice range along with my camera to help me fine tune.

I will never, ever say I have the game figured out. That is impossible. More issues will arise down the road and that's one of the reasons I love the game. I also know my swing will always be unique, but that is ok as long as it is consistent.

I did shoot my best round in quite awhile Wednesday night at Nevel Meade; a 2-under par 70. I birdied #1, #6, #9, #10, and #18. The only par-5 I birdied was #18 where I missed an 8ft eagle putt for my 69. I had several shots throughout the round I tanked, mostly on par-5's.

I am excited with the direction my game is taking and feel the swing change is simple and will allow more consistent golf. I hope to post some video within the week to show you what I am blabbering about.

What I Did This Summer - by Brian T.

The last time I posted, I was showing you pictures of our mailbox that was struck by lightning. That was April. Since then, we have put in a new mailbox (but it still gets junk mail) and put on a new roof due to the wind damage.

Our fish pond has all of sudden started retaining its water. Last year, I would fill it up and then the next day, it would be down 25%. This year, I haven't filled it once. I guess wherever the crack is, it finally filled in with enough sediment to seal it. We have two fish left. Last year we had four. I'm not sure what is getting them, but it's stealthy. For awhile, I didn't think we had any, but the two remaining fish must have kicked into survival mode and started hiding in the filter box where they get stuck. They spend most of the day hiding under the rocks now that I've put the Kibosh on them by blocking the filter.

Work has been extremely busy. The huge GE Volunteer Project is complete, but now my very small department is busy tying up all the loose ends while still trying to maintain the daily operation of the building. All this while we have 400 kids here for summer camp and the pools have been packed every day because of the heat.

Amongst all the chaos, my beautiful Fiancee and I have been planning the wedding with tons of help from Julie's mom and sister. Julie is on top of things...I am not. I help where I can, but my brain doesn't work when it comes to all the little details that need to be taken care of. But I'm trying. We are both extremely excited, but just want the day to get here.

We are taking dance lessons at Arthur Murray, but Julie's ankle has kept her sidelined quite a bit. We need to practice this week so we don't tick off the teacher Monday at our next lesson. I never think the first dance looks quite right when it's a set dance, but I guess it's just me. I come from the "sway back and forth until the song is over"camp, but then again, I have no culture ( I also don't know no Portuguese).

I've been playing softball with brother Kevin and the Yogi's on Sundays, which is fun. However, I do prefer Fall leagues. If I am going to be that hot, I'd rather be on the golf course. I usually pitch, but have caught a few times when I was having trouble finding the plate. I only feel comfortable at the moment at these two positions and first base, however I think with some practice I could be an outfielder. It's been years since I fielded fly balls.

When it comes to hitting, I feel like I've started games off well, but then start grounding and flying out in my last couple of at-bats. This is usually due to a lack of patience and swinging at the first pitch. I'm sure I'll get it figured out by the last game of the season.

I have tried to play some golf here and there, but it's been tough to get out. I'm playing Nevel Meade tomorrow night after work with some guys from the Bats, so that should be fun...but hot. I won't go into detail in this post, but I am going to post some self made videos of my golf swing and what I am working on. It is mostly for my benefit, but thought it may lend some direction to my sputtering blog posts.

Anyhow, I know it's not as fascinating as my brothers, God of Thunder, and Carlos Merriweather, Dr. Love & Tony Dollar$. Now that I think about it, I have never seen any of them in the same place at the same time. Hmmmm

E(lectric)-Mail Box

Here are the pictures of our mailbox that was struck by lighting a few weeks ago.

This is the hole that was blown out the side of the mailbox. The last number looks like it used to be a 7, but it was a 3. That's just the path of the bolt. It melted the decal.

The force of the bolt ripped the mailbox off the newspaper holder and flaked off most of the paint inside the paper slot.

You can see the blue streak on the top of the mailbox and it's path down to the last number. I want to keep this mailbox...any ideas how I can use it?

"A Tradition Unlike Any Other..."

Now that basketball season is over, I can turn my sporting attention towards the Green Heaven of Augusta National and the rest of the golf majors this Summer (I haven't forgotten about the St. Louis Cardinals, but I won't really start watching baseball until after Derby...just usually how it works out).

The Masters starts tomorrow and I'm ready for it. I haven't thought much about it up until now because of Kentucky Basketball going to the Final Four this year. I turned on the TV last night looking for Live from the Masters on the Golf Channel (which is now an HD Channel...yippee!) and watched that for awhile. I then went online to see what has been happening on the PGA and European Tours this year. I knew Phil Mickelson won this past weekend, but that's all I had really heard or remembered. I also heard Lee Westwoods plan had to make an emergency landing due to smoke in the cockpit, but that it was just Darren Clarke's cigar. Now that the temperature is warming again and I have a general feel for what is happening in the golf world, I am very excited to watch some golf this week. My DVR is set and I can already hear the The Masters music along with the piped-in bird songs they use on broadcasts (not to be confused with The Byrds songs). I will post my predictions later today.