life

I am very excited to be writing my first ever blog.  Let me introduce myself I am Elliott LaVercombe Head Teaching Professional for THE Golf Academy!  I am writing this to tell my story of how I got into golf and why golf is such a great game!

I started my passion for the game of golf when I was twelve, even though at the time I had no idea how many doors the game of golf would open for me.  I just enjoyed playing.  My grandfather introduced me to the game of golf during my summer vacations in Grand Haven, MI.  At the time soccer was still my sport and living in Colorado there wasn't much time during the year to practice golf!  Since no one in my immediate family played and since it was still an expensive game to play I stuck with Soccer until my parents moved me to St. Augustine, FL when I was a sophomore in High School.  I was fifteen and very excited about the opportunity to play more golf!  By this time I had three summers of golf with grandpa and I was getting better!

Wouldn't you know that it's 12:30 Am and I am still awake. Did I forget to mention I have to work tomorrow? Early shift? But I cant sleep. Colecta, the Advil PM aint workin! Its time for me to go back to the Tylenol!
Looking back on my life, I have had a lot of ups and downs. Many of you probably don't know, but I was born addicted to cocaine. My birth mother and father are both drug addicts.

When I was born, I was in the hospital until I was well enough to go home. But I didn't go home to "Mom and Dad", I went home to my great-grandmother. She is who I consider "Mother". You will often hear me refer to her or tell stories about her.

Friday, September 28, 2007
The Boxer

Last night, after writing my last blog, I prayed that God would help with all the struggles. Something that was really on my mind was the fact that more money that usual has been being taken out of my paycheck. My union is taking there "fees" out in five installments. It truly is double-edged sword but in a few weeks, things will get back to normal. So I prayed and read some scriptures ( especially psalms 121 and psalms 37:4). And then this morning, I woke up refreshed and ready to start my day and the phone rang... It was work!!! They ask me to come in a do a show. This was great. It would mean my check might look normal( Mouseka dance!!)

Ah! The beautiful fall is here! This is the time to buy those smelly cinnamon brooms (that will make my allergic hubby sneeze until his nose rolls down in the carpet) and time to decorate the apartment in hearth colors.

That is if I can ever put my little creatures to sleep, of course, which is not happening any time soon. I talked to Peter (my better half) about getting at least a part time job to help him out with the bills. He just turned around and looked at me like if I had just lost my mind: "Oh yeah? And what exactly are you planning to do with the kids? Wearing them like a hat while you work?" And then he went on and on about how much we would have to pay in child care for three kids.

I still remember those fairy tales my mom used to tell us by the fire place (that was until the cat got on fire because he got too close and the smell never left the house). We were 7 kids and we all paid so much attention to those stories, specially the part where the prince takes the princess on his beautiful white horse and goes away.. so romantic?

I don't think so! Someone forgot to add the part where the little princess had to wash the prince's underwear or where her delicate hands had to scratch the gum off from under the table and chase her little 2 year old away from the dog before the poor animal realizes that he has been decorated with my lipstick like a canine prostitute!

I was getting ready to go to work the other night when my eye got caught on my son Patrick, who was sitting at the computer looking straight at the screen like hypnotized! All of a sudden his little fingers would hit the keyboard like an electric discharge coming straight from his little brain.

_Patrick what are you doing?

 -Homework, he answered without even looking at me

-I see, and what kind of homework is it?

-Politics mom!

-I see! Social Studies?

- No mom, real politics! I am writing to the President of the Unites States!

- About?

-Our family.. He replied very satisfied and his fingers went back to the keyboard.

I thought I'd share a col or two that I have written. Before being transferred to the Times union, I was the Publisher of the News Chief in Winter Haven Florida. I am currently the Sun Community Newspaper Director. This col was written in October 13 , 2005. I hope you enjoy it.

Before I get started here, and before you get all worked up and send me letters over this column, let me say that I have a seven-year strict vegetarian, animal (lover) daughter living at home. Her name is Caroline. She is the youngest of three daughters, 18 and very independent. She is in her first year at PCC. And, like any parent, I love her unconditionally.

Time passes. Life happens.  Distance separates. Children grow up. Jobs come and go.
Love waxes and wanes. Men don't do what they're supposed to do. Hearts break.
Parents die. Colleagues forget. Careers end. No matter how much time and how many miles are between us, a friend is never far away. When you have to walk that valley and you have to walk it by yourself, the friends in your life will be on the valley's rim, cheering you on, praying for you, pulling for you, praying on your behalf, and waiting with open arms at the valley's end. Sometimes, they will even break the rules and walk beside you...or come in and carry you out. When we begin this journey we have no idea of the joys or sorrows that lay ahead. Nor do we know how much we need each other. Every day.