The Lawn Tracker - Year One

One of my favorite things to do is sit outside with my Java and admire the birds, the trees, my craptastic lawn.. An acre and a half of a mix of every weed known to man with some beautiful patches in between. This lawn hasn't seen an aerator or fertilizer in at least eight years. I decided to create the lawn tracker for myself based on a twice a year program. I'm no guru on the subject - this is merely a way to look back and say this worked and that didn't. I also realize that I'm not alone. Perhaps through comments we can track our successes together and enjoy that perfect cup of Joe to the fullest.

Fall 2011
• Rented aerator from Mt. Holly Farm Supply (MHFS)
• Purchased 3 huge sacks of Fescue, 3 bags of Green Charger
• Two weeks into October (warm winter ahead) aerated and spread the above
• Settings for the pull behind spreader was half way open for both

Spring 2012
• Purchased six bags of pre-emergent and six bags of lime from MHFS
• Spreader set half way last week of February
• Cut the grass two weeks later
• Normal cutting - mower deck set one setting lower than half (Bolens)
• Hand spread Pennington advanced seed to fix Mr. 704's pee spots

Year One Results
• Pennington seed worked so-so.
• Crab grass has a long way to go to get rid of
• Different species of grass causing different shades of green
• Opt to weed and feed after pre-emergent next Spring?
• Lime twice a year with Green Charger due to high acidity in the soil?

I welcome your comments below to adjust Fall 2012's prescriptive program!

Exposed

A young couple was riding down the road. First road trip together. Happy as could be. Along with them was the husband's trusty dog. Its a package deal of course. She puts up with the dog for her love of him. Windows down. Life couldn't be better except the wind blown hair plastered across her face. The look at him through held back bangs - his guilt for wanting to have a good time. A/C on and the windows go up. The first deal breaker to be exposed comes through the vents. How could he have withheld this vital piece of information?!

An enclosed and extremely small environment emits the first accusation. He had smelly feet! Did her friends know this? How could her parents not say anything? In horror, he deflects the question. No one had told him this either in all of his 27 years. All she could think about was the betrayal, what her friends were thinking of her new beau, the last time he might have washed his feet based on the rating his smell had on the obnoxious scale, and the fortune it would cost at a pediatrist if she did not want to be embarrassed. All he can think about was, "What the hell is she talking about!" Unspoken words - clear emotional discomfort. Until, that is, the dog put his comforting paw on her shoulder.

The smell clearly coming from whatever it was he stepped in prior to hopping into the car. Something dead apparently.

It was the last time an accusation was raised by her in their relationship. A dog paw of a misunderstanding you might say. The lesson for her was to question before accusation. The lesson for him? Wash his dog's goddamn feet.

Mine That Bird

In 2009, a relatively unknown horse by the name of "Mine That Bird," a 50:1 long shot, came from dead last in the pack to win the Kentucky Derby. Even the announcers were stunned and can't form their words correctly to describe what is unfolding before their eyes. Relive the race:

The lesson was taught into me over years of trial and failure that I always need to remain optimistic. I'm the first to admit to you that after denial and failure perceived and/or real for a long period of time, it is so easy to slip into a fatalistic mindset. This isn't depression - this is normal. After years of no hope and failure to achieve my dreams, I became numb with the idea that life was always going to be worthless. This had the potential to cause reckless behavior. It was only until I had someone ask me, "Why can't you go back to college?" did that revitalizing emotion come back that I should envision success. It was only until I became a life long learner willing to ask others for help and direction did my life improve. Most importantly, I took every suggestion that was given to me. I was worth it. I moved out of Florida to North Carolina. This is huge to someone willing to simply be content with nothing. I achieved my mini goals. Above all else - Courage, courage and more courage. Never give up. Take action. I became most convinced that I needed no one for my emotional happiness except for my love affair of dogs. That is one connection I may never break my emotional dependence on. I would have never arrived at this state without going through all of that and my darkest day, hour and moment. Even today I look for the next success. It's a life long journey. If it all ended today, I could say, "You know what? I did pretty damn good."

A Walk in the Dark

Have you ever had that moment when you realize you have absolutely no clue where you're headed, and your scared shitless? How about in life? I did. But I never realized that I had one of the most important of life's lessons or directions the whole time - I would live in North Carolina. Hey, at least I had a direction. Its not a major life goal. I know this. However, subconsciously, it went hand-in-hand with a major one to overcome fear.

The story goes back to when I was a wee boy. Imagine traveling up to your folks second place in the mountains. I hated sleeping in the pitch black room by myself. I wasn't supposed to sleep in my brother's room because I was scared. I'm a city boy for crying out loud. The city lights of South Florida never allowed the stars to shine too brightly. When the bear came running up the side of the house, grunting and knocking over the trash cans right outside my window I would never be the same again emotionally or spiritually. I would always be reliant on someone else for my emotional security.

This point was cemented in stone later on in life. One early morning while hunting, I walked out to my spot in the dark. I didn't want to go into the hammock alone for fear of an animal attacking. Wouldn't you know it.. a boar hog ran right passed me in the dark. I thought it was the bear. I thought I needed to buy new underwear.

What I didn't realize I was thinking was that I needed to return to North Carolina and stand on my own to face the "bear". Not relying on anyone to give me my own emotional security. I did one foot out in front of the other. But it took a lot of life lessons prior to this to get to that point. The lessons were far from over.

In the beginning..

I'm not sure when I felt that I was just a little off or a tad bit different than most kids my age. Perhaps it was those stupid tortoise framed glasses my parents put me in. Or the simple fact that I was antisocial for as long as I can remember. I had one friend growing up. No one else wanted to hang around him except for me. From a well to do family, it kind of surprised me. Then again his breath did smell like dog shit every day. I don't know. I didn't care. He accepted me and I him. I'm sure he went off to law school or medical and has more money than God. Hell. He could have even turned out to be a male prostitute pimping himself out on South Beach. I have no clue as is the case with most of the people I knew growing up. I lost touch with him after Elementary. I saw him again years later while in High School. He had two girls on each arm. Honestly, I felt unsuccessful and pathetic. Girlfriendless of course. Such was the story of my life. Chasing others' dreams instead of finding value in self. Jealousy and envy. Who was I? It was the beginning of an adventure that would ultimately paint the collage that is my life today. Ironically, geeky tortoise glasses are back in fad. Thank goodness because I have come full circle wearing them again to paint my collage for you.