Rochester, NY

11:02 PM

The second annual Sunday with the Master’s party came and went today. It was all that it was billed to be. A 60 degree sunny day with blue skies awaited as I woke up. I didn’t do much but watch TV last night, so I was ready. My dad and I walked down the beach this morning. It was my first walk of the Spring. I had worked out yesterday and it felt good to loosen up the joints.

The TV watching crew came over after lunch. Caytie, Bryan, and Conway made it over at about 2. Uncle B came over at about 3:30. Aunt D about 4. Ron and Susan at about 4. Bryan and I shot some hoops before the golf came on. From there, it was TV, a beer, chips and cheese dip, and Tiger marching on. The shot on 16 is what will be remembered, but 7 straight birdies are hard to beat. I went to bed last night with Tiger down 4. When I hit ESPN.com this morning he was up 3. Big turnaround. He didn’t look his sharpest coming down the stretch, but you knew he was going to make the putt on the playoff hole.

It is wild to me that a year ago at this time I was here with the same people, doing the same thing. A lot has changed in that year. I flew home to Rochester last year for Easter and the Masters. That was in the first week of my On the Road experience. Now it’s been many months and thousands of miles. I’ve come to know so many new people and seen so many new places. 27,000 miles and counting. I’ve also reconnected with a lot of people and that has been great.

Since I’ve been home for a while, I’ve learned that family is with you no matter what. They were with me when I was on my way to a sales career. They are with me on my way to whatever career comes out of all of this. I still don’t know what comes out of this. I just know a year has passed and I’m still looking for more. The road still calls me. The interviews are out there waiting. It will be interesting to see what has progressed at the next Masters.

As for golf, I did the Major pool again. My seven this year: Tiger, Ernie Els (disappointment), Stewart Cink, Jim Furyk, Padraig Harrington (MC), Charles Howell III (MC), Jose Maria Olazabal (MC). My team sucked. I had two guys miss the cut by one stroke. Jose Maria was a bad pick, he still had the choke from last week in his head. One guy had all 7 make the cut. U.S. Open next.

Spring weather is in Rochester. A forecast of 7 straight sunny days. I have to hit the gym tomorrow. I gorged on chips and dip, BBQ franks, party mix, chicken, pasta salad, potato salad, green beans, and ice cream with chocolate sauce and strawberries. Watched a great episode of 24 (I missed it on Monday because of the NCAA hoops). Big belly yawns and gets ready for bed…

Toronto and Philly are on the horizon.