The Masters

If you have been a regular reader of my blog you know that I have a love of the Masters golf tournament. I just find it so perfect. I love the exclusivity of the Masters, the green jacket, the history, the course, etc... Well, this past week I was able to attend the Wednesday practice round and the traditional par 3 tournament. If everything else in life was like the Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters then life would be great. Currently, you are not able to get regular round badges. They haven't had a lottery since 1972 (I was 1, actually 0 yrs. old) and the waiting list closed in 2002. But I was able to secure a practice round ticket ($41, it ain't about the money there) and travel to Augusta, GA via Charlotte, NC and Columbia, SC with friend Dave.

I don't think there are adjectives to describe the course... perfect, well manicured, cleaner than a brain surgery operating room? You could lick the fairway and I'm pretty sure it would be cleaner than your kitchen counter. I didn't see one weed and only saw one bug under a tree. The azaleas were in full bloom, in fact, they spend millions of dollars to make sure they bloom this specific weekend. TV doesn't do the course justice as far as seeing the elevation change, it is just unreal. The greens are so fast I'm sure I would putt off the green from about 6 feet anywhere. I had two sandwiches (pimento & cheese, and egg salad - traditional), a bag of chips, a bag of peanuts, and an import beer and the total was $8.50! Unreal.

We got to see a lot of golfers in the morning as on Tuesday it was cold and everybody played on Wednesday. I saw guys like Jim Furyk, Paul Casey, Geoff Oglivy, Luke Donald, Bubba Watson, Ben Crenshaw (playing in his last Masters), Bubba Watson, and of course, Tiger Woods. I was close enough to slap him in the back or grab his club in mid-swing. I thought about jumping the ropes and grabbing his tiger head cover, but I decided not to. At the par 3 tournament we saw everybody. We saw two holes-in-one. One about 15 feet from us. We saw Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, and Gary Player playing together. Tom Watson tee off. Phil Mickelson playing and much more.

I will hopefully go back someday and I encourage anyone who loves golf to come along. If you remember a past post, I have made Liam sign a binding legal document saying if he every gets to play I get to caddie for him. Hopefully that dream will come true.

I have so many pictures that are great that the only way to show them all is through a slideshow... enjoy!

Owen Eating Snow

So all the snow from the other day's storm is gone, but Owen got a chance to play in it. Here is a little video of him eating some snow.

Willy Wonka

Liam was in the school musical Willy Wonka Jr. this past weekend. You would have thought that with three performances we could have got a better video clip, but in the first one Owen was squirming and I had a bad angle for the second one. Unfortunately, the third was his worst performance as he watched the actors, made weird faces, and had an argument with his classmate on who was supposed to what at the end. Anyway, enjoy the kindergarten's rendition of Think Positive!

Uncle James

This past week my Uncle James passed away into heaven. He fell outside his home while doing some work. Cathy, Liam, Owen, and I trudged up to Hutchinson, MN with my parents to attend the funeral. It is always good to see family, most of whom I don't see other than every couple years, but unfortunate it had to be at a funeral. It puts things into perspective, as funerals usually do.

James Heikes (1941 - 2009)
James “Jim” Joseph Heikes, 67

Jim Heikes, 67, of Hutchinson, died on March 28, 2009 at the Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, Minn. after falling while working outside his Hutchinson home.

James “Jim” Joseph Heikes was born June 19, 1941, in Austin, the son of Joe and Rose (Goetsch) Heikes. He attended Martin Luther High School in New Ulm, Minn.

On June 21, 1961, Jim married Carole Eblen. Jim and Carole are the parents of five children: Kim, Kevin, Kandi, Kari and Keith. Jim and Carole and their family moved a number of times throughout the first 20 years of their marriage and resided in St. James, Austin and Albert Lea, Minn.; Alliance, Ohio; Webster City, Iowa and Rogers, Minn., before they settled in Hutchinson, Minn. in 1980. They shared nearly 48 years of marriage. During the majority of his life, Jim was self-employed. When the family moved to Hutchinson, Jim and Carole purchased the Hardware Hank store, previously located at 105 Washington Street. After selling the store, the two built a roller skating rink, Minnesota Fun, on Highway 7. After closing the roller rink, Jim and his son, Kevin, entered into the furniture business with the original Factory Direct Furniture going into the building. Jim retired in 1995, and rented the building out. In 2007, Jim and his two sons, Kevin and Keith, ventured into the furniture business and Factory Direct Furniture returned to Hutchinson. Jim's hobbies included farming, auction sales, and collecting tractors - primarily John Deere items. His favorite activity, however, was the time he spent with his 8 beautiful grandchildren.

Jim is survived by his wife, Carole Heikes, Hutchinson, Minn.; five children, Kim Heikes, Hutchinson, Kevin (Gloriann) Heikes, Hutchinson, Kandi Kath, Otsego, Kari (Steve) Rettig, Hutchinson, Keith Heikes (fiancée, Tess Chiotti), Hutchinson; eight grandchildren, Kyle, Alison, Katelyn, Andrew, Alexander, Peyton, Anthony and Amanda; mother, Rose Heikes, Clara City, Minn.; sisters, Myrtiss (Norm) Riediger, Willmar, Minn., Ruth (Ray) Dusseau, Milwaukee, Wis.; nieces, nephews and many other relatives and friends. Jim is preceded in death by his father, Joe Heikes; and brother-in-law, Elmer Weckwerth.

A Celebration of Life was held at 1 p.m., at Peace Lutheran Church, Hutchinson, on Thursday, April 2, 2009, with Pastor Gerhard Bode officiating. Interment was in the church cemetery. Arrangements were made with the Dobratz-Hantge Chapel in Hutchinson. Online Condolences may be directed to www.hantge.com. Memorials may be made to the Peace Lutheran Church Fill This House Fund.