Cuff, as in rotor cuff.  I can think of a few more 4 letter words to go with it.  Mine.  Torn.  Pain.    None...as in how much golf I will be playing during the summer of 2008.

An hour ago, the surgeon confirmed what I strongly suspected.  At the point where I was almost ready to get back to golfing after surgery last fall, I re-tore the Supraspinatus muscle in my rotor cuff and will have to have surgery again.  His best case scenario was that I might be able to golf again in late August or early September.

This uplifting news comes after almost 6 months of restraints and physical therapy, cleaning clubs, watching videos to improve my game, being snowed in since November, anticipating my most active season ever after retiring at the first of this year, and getting a new set of woods for Christmas.

On the bright side, I do still have a right arm, and it may heal completely by the summer of 2009.  In the mean time, I'll have to be content to ride along with my buddies and enjoy just being on the course with them when the weather is nice.  I'll be working on my David Feharty impression, so I can comment on their shots, and maybe do some putting by June.

The rest of today will be spent getting my clubs rounded up and back in the closet.  :-(

Hoth, the fictional 6th planet of a remote system from Star Wars.  A world of ice and snow where just being outside can kill you within minutes.  Hummmmm, sounds like Iowa, except not as remote.  (See new picture "Me and my caddy", in my photo album "The off season in Iowa".)

Forecast for today, "chance of a light dusting of snow with highs in the mid 30s."  Reality for today, 6" of new snow on top of what we already had, 30 mph winds causing huge drifts and a chill factor of -10F.  Even the snow plow got stuck this morning.  Right now, "Global Warming" doesn't seem to be very global or very warming.

I've come to the conclusion that Heaven and Hell are not opposites.  Hell is hot, Heaven is mild, so there must be a place that is as cold as Hell is hot.  I will call this cold place Lleh, and that is where I'll probably end up if this winter is any indication.  :-(

Stay tuned for your next 4 letter word, which will be "Cuff".  I will explain that in about 10 days.