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Spaulding Smails

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Posts posted by Spaulding Smails

  1. Played yesterday after work.  Best I've struck my irons in a long time.  Went 40-41.  Mini meltdown on 16-17-18 where I went bogey-bogey-double.  Also missed two birdie putts inside of 10' and had an unfortunate double on the front due to a bad bounce off a sprinkler head in the middle of the fairway.  First legit shot at breaking 80 in ages.  Golf is a whole lot more fun when you're improving.  

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  2. After never having any joint issues, I developed tennis elbow this spring.  It started to get pretty bad, then I hit a long iron fat and it was debilitating.  It was on hole #3, and I could only putt the rest of the round.  It was so bad that I couldn't even pick up my coffee mug out of the cup holder in my truck.  I had played very little golf in the preceding 5+ years, and really started playing / practicing more and made a pretty dramatic swing change that I think all contributed.  

    I ended up getting a cortizone shot, and that helped a ton.  I was religious with my own PT, and it honestly fixed the issue.  I used this product and it really helped.  Had it not gotten better, I would have had to put the clubs down.  Been pretty good the last few weeks with only the occasional pain.

    https://www.gripxt.com/products/

     

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  3. Got skunked in Burnet County this morning.  Saw a few birds off on the horizon, but didn't even pull the trigger.  I think the rain played a huge part.  We were hunting over a tank that has always been solid on opening day when it's dry.  Bummer, but I'll take sitting in the field with a cup of coffee watching an amazing sunrise over a computer screen at the office any day of the week. 

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  4. 2 hours ago, LebongJames said:

    My wife’s favorite place is Lisabellas in Cinnamon Shore. It was way less crazy than other places in town a few weeks ago. We were seeing almost 2 hour waits at a lot of places. We just bought some shrimp and snapper at Paul’s and grilled it at the house.

     

    Irie’s and Venetian are really good. I don’t know if they do reservations but if they do I would look into that.

    Venetian is definitely on the list.  Heard good things about Irie's as well.  My parents, sister and her kids may be joining as well.  That'll be the only night we eat out, so at least we won't be fighting holiday crowds at every meal.

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  5. Heading down to Port A for Labor Day weekend.  I'm coming in early, then the wife and kids are headed down after school.  Looking for a low-key dinner recommendation for Friday night.  Seafood preferred but not required.  Suggestions?

  6. 5 hours ago, deadshank said:

    Go south toward SA, Lytle, Hondo, Uvalde, etc.  Plenty of decent outfitters.  Some are great.

    Agreed.  The further south the better.  As @deadshank mentioned, there's several outfitters in that area that are solid, and the birds are usually pretty consistent.  Might be tough getting a spot the first few weekends at this point, though.

    The only one I know of around here is the Storm Ranch in Dripping Springs.  It's been 5+ years since I dove hunted out there, and it was OK.  Shot maybe 4-5 dove in one evening hunt.  They don't even advertise dove hunts, so not sure if it's something they still offer.  

    https://stormranchhunting.com/

    Also, it may be too late, but check these guys out if you want a season lease.  Hunted with them for a few years before we bought our place, and had a good experience.  Hunting was hit and miss, but had access to several spots and the reservation system was pretty decent.

    https://www.wingedrepublic.com/

  7. 11 hours ago, Judge Roybeanbag said:

    Also not summer sausage just regular sausage, but this stuff is delicious..spacer.png

    Granzin's was my go-to once I moved to Central Texas.  LOVED the dried smoked sausage.  They changed the casings about 5-6 years ago.  Not sure if they were natural before, but the more recent variety is definitely the artificial type.  They keep much longer, but don't have the snap of the old style.  

    For summer sausage, I remember my dad always getting a decent amount from his processed deer at Midway in Katy.  It was awesome.  Opa's and Granzin's both make decent summer sausage as well.  Slovacek's is my favorite from HEB.  

  8. 3 hours ago, SamsCorner said:

    Worked hard on the practice green and since switching my chipping grip to cross-handed my index has dropped from 5.7 to 3.8.  I'm confident with any shot around the green which has led to taking more "risky" approach shots.  I can go hunt pins on the short side and not just the middle of the green.  When I don't have all that pressure on one area of my game it has giving me confidence throughout.

    This is so true.  I'm about 10 strokes behind you.  But, in the last 3-4 rounds, something has finally started to click.  My handicap is steadily decreasing.  My two biggest issues were finding fairways and chipping around the green.  I had a full on case of the chipping yips.  I played Sunday and hit 8 of 14 fairways.  Only had two bad misses on chips.  Got up and down 4 times.  Finding fairways equals more shots at greens.  More shots at greens equals smarter approaches and missing in the right spot.  Missing in the right spot equals easier up and downs.  It was boring golf Sunday, and I loved it.  No birdies, but only two doubles.  The rest were all pars and bogies.  Genuinely feel like I'm close to turning the corner to playing respectable golf.  

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  9. We did a quick day float on the Devils River this weekend.  Fishing was slow, but caught a few smallies and a few largemouth.  We stopped for lunch just above Turkey Bluff, pulled the kayaks up onto a shelf, ate some sammiches and drank a few beers.  My son and his buddies went swimming and exploring.  A few minutes later, I see him walking up with an 18" largemouth in his hands.  No rod / reel.  That dude saw a bass that had somehow meandered its way into a shallow pool that was about 10' in diameter and 18" deep with no way to get out.  He somehow managed to corral it by hand.  We took a quick pic and released it back into the river.  First time I've ever seen someone catch a bass by hand.  

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  10. 3 hours ago, fattyflattie said:

    Call me a realist, but I’ll bet you dollars to donuts I know exactly when we’re finally going to get that much needed turd floater. 
     

    I’m also seeing a ton of birds. 

    TRUTH.  I think it was about three or four years ago, I stopped by my buddy's ranch in Live Oak County Labor Day weekend on the way back from Port A.  Just absolutely covered with dove.  Shot the shit with him and fantasized of a 30 minute limit.  Showed up a few weeks later for the south zone opener and it didn't stop raining for three days straight.  Shot maybe three birds over the weekend but drank lots of beer on the porch.  Though as dry as it is this year, I'd probably take the rain out. 

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  11. Call me an optimist, but I think this dove season could be pretty decent.  I'm seeing a ton at my house right now in western Hays Co.  There's usually a decent amount of local birds, but the numbers seem to be significantly more.  I saw similarly increased numbers at our place in Kimble Co a few weeks ago.  I'll be at a buddy's ranch in Burnet Co for opening morning.  Need to go pick up a license in the next few weeks.  Anyone else have 9/1 circled on the calendar this year?

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  12. On 7/23/2022 at 6:17 PM, ztejas said:

    I'd hope Uresti is cooler than that. I'm sure someone here knows him or has met him. 

    Omar's a decent enough guy.  I didn't like the shenanigans he pulled to get into the PGA a few years back, and I'm sure he's got a bit of a Napoleon complex, but he's very approachable and just does his thing.  We've chatted a few times, and he's never come across as anything more than just a guy that likes to play golf.  I was hitting next to him on the range a few weeks ago, and his iron accuracy is still amazing.  

  13. 3 minutes ago, texasdago said:

    ...and I can tell you the last time we were out in Llano, it looked downright awful out there.  Need to see what its like lately or better not so I don't get depressed.

    Our ranch in Kimble County looked like the surface of the moon in late May.  We got two rounds of 2+" between June and July.  Small shoots of green have popped up, but it's still pretty bleak.  

  14. Booked a quick weekend getaway for the family to the JW in San Antonio in two weeks.  Figured I'd try to snag a tee time as a single as early as possible that Saturday.  Oaks was booked until 10:30.  Canyons had a spot at 7:18.  Perfect.  Then, the pro shop informed me that all the bunkers are under repair... and one hole is closed... and the green fee was going to be $275.  I politely declined.  As a capitalist, I love this.  Supply and demand at its finest.  But, damn.  That's robbery for that course.  

  15. Subscribed.  We're going to look for something along the coast some time in the next five years.  Similar strategy, @GlenFromTheMailRoom.  Hoping to use it a dozen times a year, have it break even, be able to let friends / family use it, and build some equity.

    We also have a strategy in place at our primary residence.  We purchased seven acres, built a 1900 SF / 4-BR / 3.5 BA lodge at the front of the property, moved into it in early June, and will move into the main house at the back of the property early next year.  Once we're settled, we'll start renting the lodge.  We're right across from a big wedding venue with limited lodging available in the area, so I'm optimistic it'll generate some nice income.  

    For those of you with STR on the same property as your homestead, how are you handling property taxes, etc?  I think I have a pretty good grasp on the management side, but I'm struggling with the financial / tax and risk side.  I'd love some high level input from someone with experience to help figure out:

    -Setting up a separate entity to "own" the property

    -How to minimize tax implications, leverage homestead, etc

    -How to reduce risk through the proper insurance policies

  16. 5 hours ago, deadshank said:

    Like I said, he's the king of mixing metaphors.  Always entertaining.

    We have a guy at my office that does something similar.  He gets the phrase right... but misses a critical word.  We call him "Biff".  

    Last week, he said, "we need to quit sending such an exuberant amount of time on invoicing."

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  17. Great update @solamente73.  You're light years ahead of me.  I've been slammed with work and just getting my head above water.  Hoping the next month lets me catch up some.

    Scope is first.  That's GOING to happen this week.  Assuming I find something in stock and don't get one shipped, I'm going to mount it and take it to the ranch this weekend.  I don't have any permanent targets set up, nor do I have a big pasture, but there's a few lanes where I can shoot to 400 yds or so.  I've got to start stretching it out.

    Purchases needed after the scope:  sling (thanks for the suggestion), boots, clothes (any thoughts between Kuiu and Sitka?).

    My buddy and I are planning on quartering there, and bringing back to Texas for processing.  He takes his to a place in Houston.  I'll process my own.  I'm debating on whether or not we tow one of my trailers.  I have two Yeti 125s.  Thinking of adding a 160.  I have an 8' bed on my truck with a toolbox.  We can probably fit everything in there.  I like the idea of maybe rigging a second level somehow.  Let me know if you figure out a strategy there.

    Thanks again for the post.  Getting me off high center.  3 months out!

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  18. 11 minutes ago, TonyTexas said:

    Now that the voting for position players for the ASG is done with only Altuve representing, what other Astros will be chosen in a reserve role? Yordan and JV are locks. Tucker and Framber are possibilities. 
     

    BTW. I like the new “special selection” addition to the ASG roster.(Pujols, Cabrera)  It’s a good way to let the fans celebrate brilliant careers and say goodbye to a couple of legends. 

    I think the revamped ASG structure is actually something that MLB got right (or at least got better).  And, though I'd love to see more of the big names participate in the HRD, I get why some of them decline the invite.  Not sure of the stats, but anecdotally it does seem like there have been guys enter slumps immediately after participating.  That being said, imagine a derby with Stanton, Judge, Trout, Yordan, Alonso and Goldschmidt.  

    And, I think Yordan, JV and Tucker are locks.  Not sure we get anyone in past that.  

  19. 14 hours ago, Kennythetiger said:

    I shoot left-handed shotguns but got frustrated with the price and selection of rifles so I gave up and shoot right-handed rifles left-handed. 
    Hell, when you’re as good as me you only need one shot anyway. 

    I did the same thing as a kid.  Always shot a RH bolt action.  Actually got pretty quick at reaching over the scope to pull back the bolt and rechamber a round with my left hand without ever taking my eye off the scope.  In the grand scheme of things, it's really only an issue if you're firing multiple rounds from a rifle or shooting a semi-auto shotgun.  Other than that, it's just preference.  

    That being said, I may try to snag one of these in the next few years.  Just having trouble justifying $6K for a pistol.  

    https://cabotguns.com/left-hand-1911s/

  20. 9 minutes ago, Guadaloopy said:

    Not as much as Joe West’s fan interference call.  

    This comment opened up an old wound.  I was in RF with my son at that game.  We were in row 3.  The fan that interfered was about 8 seats down from us.  Damn you Joe West.

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