January 2, 2004 - Yesterday's lack of excitement was not a very good start to a new year. I made up for it today with some fun. Things got off on the right foot when I put on my brand new running shoes and took a lap around the neighborhood. I didn't feel good during the run at first but I was glad to stick through the whole thing because I both needed the exercise and felt better the longer I ran. After a shower and some lunch I went along with my sister and mom to visit my Uncle Jerry. He lives in the house that my grandma lived in until she died. He actually lived there for a long time while she was still alive and the house was willed to him. When my grandma died he brought his ex-wife down from Ohio and she brought their child, her childs kid, some other people, and now the house has 6 or so people living in it. My grandma had plenty of money to take care of the house and it was in pretty good condition when she died. Now it is in less than great condition. We then ran a couple errands before going to Cliff Stevens Disc Golf Course in Clearwater. My mom tried to play with me but after she saw my first throw (probably about 320 feet, one of my best ever) and then her 15 foot throw, she decided that disc golf was not for her. I played a very respectable +8 round of disc golf. This was my third time playing the course. I'm not sure of my previous scores but I think that considering my lack of play lately, it was good to get this score. The highlight of the round was when I reached hole number 16 and saw the new hole that was built between 16 and 17, labeled "A". The new hole is essentially an island. Water surrounds the majority of the hole, with a narrow path leading up to the basket. I had a great throw which landed within 5 feet of the basket. There was a tremendous risk of the disc landing in water so it was good that I had a throw that landed close to the basket. I purchased a new Beast 168 to replace the ones that I have lost. This is my fourth one that I've owned. The Beast is so great, yet so easy to lose. We all drove back to my parents house and then over to my Uncle Al's. From there, Aunt Alberta, Denise, Alecia, my mom, my sister, and I drove down to the beach for dinner. We ate at some place right on the beach. Then ice cream followed at the much heralded "Larry's Ice Cream". I had two scoops of gelato which were quite good. Then we drove further down the beach to Pirates Cove putt-putt. I destroyed the rest of the contestants with my two over par (40). The next closest was my sister with a 49. Finally to end the evening we returned back to my uncles before returning home where I watched OSU and heard French National Defile March played with precision by the OSU Marching Band. Tomorrow I travel to Washington DC to see Mike Cloppert.