New six page update

The Harris International November 2005 Update is now available. If you'd like a copy of all six pages, send me an e-mail (royharris@runbox.com) and I will send it to you. The new update is in pdf format. Plus, there is a QuickTime video embedded in the PDF file. So, you will need Adobe Reader 7.0 and Apple's QuickTime 7.0 to view ALL of the contents.

Roy Harris

P.S. I haven't been very busy on my blog lately because I've been swamped with responsibilities. I am sure many of you know what I mean when I say, "Life Happens." But for those of you who don't, let me give you a glimpse:

When LIFE HAPPENS, all the things you want to do, you can't. In other words, the dump truck of life backs up and parks itself within inches of your feet. It dumps ONE TON of unexpected responsibility on your feet and makes you swim through it. All that stuff you planned on doing this week and next.....................fo' get about them. You have way too many other things on your plate that need to be taken care of first before you can even begin to think about doing them.

Have you ever had one of those days? One of those weeks? One of those months? How about one of those years? If you have, you're probably nodding or grunting "mm Hmmmmm!" If you haven't, you're probably wondering what we are talking about. But that's OK. One of these days you will more than likely have one of those days and chuckle to yourself, "I remember when that crazy guy on that blog said something about LIFE HAPPENING ; )

Special note....

Two things:

1) This blog has several pages to it. Many who reach the bottom of this pagethink they are at the end of the blog. However, they are not. To take a look at the other pages by clicking on the link "Things you don't see everyday 1" on the right side of this page.

2) This blog has a ton of pictures on it. So, if it seems like the page is taking forever to load.............it does sometimes. Please be patient. If some of the photos don't load the first time, go ahead and reload/refresh the page. Sometimes (I have no idea why it does this), it takes a couple of "refreshes" for all of the pictures to load. (Sorry. Wish there was something I could do about that).

Enjoy.

Roy Harris

Pictures from France...

Here are a few pictures from my recent trip to Paris, France:

My first glance at the Eiffel Tower was breath taking.

Will you take a look at how many hundreds of people can walk under the tower, simultaneously.

Just a few blocks away from Notre Dame, I found this small park where pictures and drawing were sold. I even found an "Ordunance du Roy."

Ah.....Notre Dame in all her glory!"

Here's a view of the park right behind Notre Dame."

Pictures from Ireland...

Here are a few photos from my recent trip to Galway, Limerick and Dublin, Ireland:

Here's a very common scene in southeastern Ireland: Fields of green grass, rock fences hundreds of years old and sheep.

Here's the Bed and Breakfast Inn I stayed in.

Here's a view of downtown Dublin.

Here's another view of downtown Dublin.

And another view of downtown Dublin.

My journey in the game of golf...

For those of you who are unfamiliar with my golfing history, here's a reader's digest version:

1. I began playing golf when I was three years old.
2. I was consistently shooting in the high 80's when I was 11 years old.
3. In my teens, I averaged 73 for eighteen holes.
4. When I was 18 years old, I wanted to turn pro. However, my dad had different plans for my life.
5. From age 21 to age 40, I played golf three to seven times per year, but was still able to shoot between 74 and 84.
6. In 2002, I shot a 90 for the first time in thirty years. I knew I either had to give the game up or make efforts to shoot better scores.
7. Thanks to friends like Jeff Yurk, Ed and Jean Torres, and Rosalyn Anderson, I have been inspired to practice and play more often.

At the beginning of this year (2005), my scores averaged in the middle to high 80's. As you will see below, I am working my way back down to the high 70's.

A month and a half ago, I bought new equipment and boy what a difference! (Bridgestone J33R driver and 3 wood, a customized set of Cleveland TA-2 Irons and a Scotty Cameron Futura Phantom Mallet 2 Putter).

My goal for the end of this year is to consistently shoot in the high 70's on every course I play in Southern California.

In December, I am going to treat myself for all my hard work this year by attending a three day short game golf school:

http://aviaragolfacademy.com/curriculum-and-tuition.asp

Here are some of my recent 18 hole golf scores:

Torrey Pines GC North Course - July 4, 2005

84
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Torrey Pines GC North Course - July 8, 2005

76
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East Lake Country Club - July 17, 2005

77
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Maderas Country Club - July 22, 2005

79
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East Lake Country Club - August 5, 2005

80
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Torrey Pines GC North Course - August 5, 2005

81

* Got my first hole-in-one on this day: Third hole, 7:31-am.
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Maderas Country Club - August 7, 2005

78
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Arrowood GC - August 12, 2005

80
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The Vineyards GC - August 28, 2005

78
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Doubletree Resort - September 2, 2005

83
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Knollwood Country Club - September 10, 2005

78

At the end of the year, I hope to give you a positive update on how my scores have come down into the high 70's and have stayed there.

My goal for the summer of 2006 is to consistently bring my scores down into the mid 70's. When this happens, I will once again return to competitive golf. In my youth, I played in a ton of tournaments. I won a few here and there, and became the medalist (low score on the first day) in many of them.

My goal for 2007 is to begin playing professional golf. I would like to join the Pepsi Tour or the Golden State Tour, both are here in California! I doubt I have what it takes to play on the PGA Tour, but who knows.

Roy Harris

Inosanto Academy Seminar...

A couple of weeks ago, I was given the opportunity to teach a Kalis Ilustrisimo seminar at the world famous Dan Inosanto Academy in Marina del Rey, California. What a privilege and honor this was for me, especially since Sifu Dan Inosanto is my instructor in Bruce Lee's Jeet Kune Do and Filipino Martial Arts! (It is one thing for me to teach seminars in the US, Europe, Canada and Asia. It is quite another thing for me to teach a seminar at my instructor's academy with two of my instructors present! Talk about the ultimate in being nervous!)





There were about 45 people in attendance. Sifu Inosanto's place was crowded, especially with all those sticks and swords being swung around. Heck, Dale, one of my assistant instructors for the seminar, got hit in the eye by an errant sword. While he was watching one group to make sure they were performing the techniques correctly, another person from another group reached back to swing at his partner and hit Dale in the eyebrow and eye ball.








I would like to personally thank the following people for making this seminar a fun and memorabl experience for me:

1. To Sifu Dan Inosanto for welcoming and encouraging me to teach the seminar, for attending the seminar AND for being such a great host!
2. To Professor Salem Assli (my Boxe Francaise Savate instructor) for attending the seminar!
3. To all of Sifu Inosanto's students for making this seminar such an enjoyable experience! You all were so respectful and hospitable (A tribute to your instructor Guru Dan)
4. To Ms. Susan Gross for helping me teach the seminar.
5. To Mr. Dale Lowrimore for helping me teach the seminar, and, for being such a great sport when his eye was poked and his hand was accidentally hit pretty hard (by me).

Sincerely,

Roy Harris

Will you take a look at these.....