New Year’s Eve, Get On With The Gettin’ Down

At the beginning of 2009 a good friend of mine called this “The Year of Optimism”.  The sentiment itself may be the most optimistic move.  We made a pretty valiant effort.

Now, after reading Chuck Klosterman’s new book, I wonder if we weren’t just victims of clever marketing.

Klosterman notes that Pepsi Cola branded the year the same way in press releases at the end of  ’08.  Even the winning presidential campaign ran on a platform that was, essentially, “optimism is good”.

Regardless, we tried to be as optimistic as possible about the year that was.  It’s exhausting.  There are people for whom optimism is a natural state of being.  Many of them have pharmacological aid.  I’m a natural cynic.

Frolf (old habits die hard, sorry to Avery and Sarah who both hate the word), has been an optimistic salvation.

So here are the selfish  high points of last year and my goals for the start of a new decade :

REKINDLED PASSION

The sport itself may be more vibrant than ever.  This year I watched the US Championships live online.  Granted, there were some hiccups in the coverage, but all things take time.  The broadcast itself is a huge first step.

Among my friends and I the urge to frolf is now stronger than ever.  I even played a round with the great “TeamScottSmith” and this guy.  By mid-summer Otis and I were playing no fewer than 5 times a week.

Almost a sickness really.

BETTER SCORES

I finished third in the rec division in a big tournament in my old home town and, despite the worst round in two years, shot a good 18 strokes better in the Upstate Classic, compared to last year.

On my best days, I’m slightly above-average.  On my worst, I’m pure crap.  The key now is to gain some sort of consistency but, at least, the ceiling is higher now.

THIS BLOG

Really, this blog started because Otis tried to be funny.  We played a round out in Simpsonville with the new yellow dart I won in the aforementioned Rec. tournament.  It became something that is seldom-read but a blast to write.  Hopefully it will continue to improve.

AS FOR NEXT YEAR

We’ll try not to make it the “Year of being lazy”.  This is a serious threat as I’m already getting distracted and thinking of wrapping this post up.

My goals?

Get Otis to play in his first tournament.

Play in at least 5 tornaments myself.

Not suck at frolf disc golf.

Simple right?

Thanks for supporting this blog.  Tell your friends to check it out.  2010 is going to be awesome.