Bug

This is gonna sound crazy...but here it is...I kinda don't like the girl I play tennis with:P There, I said it. She is a mom from Australia that my coach set me up to do a drill session with once a week. I can't figure out why she bugs me...she just bugs me. Does this happen to you?

I don't get the impression she particularly likes me, and I do a pretty good job of hiding the fact that she bugs me. This week, not as much. She just kept asking me "what I want for Christmas", and telling me "how mad she would be if her Husband didn't buy her ____.", and "he better buy me something or____."...Whatever.

Now, don't get me wrong. I am not a Scroodge McDuck. I'm just not so into Christmas. Yes we will get a tree, yes there will be presents under it, yes I like presents. That being said, I am not pining away hoping someone buys me ____.

I don't know, maybe it's because I spent 15 years making trader money and buying myself whatever I wanted, when I wanted. Maybe it's because I moved three times in the last three years. I don't find myself wanting stuff. I have kind of become a bit of a minimalist.

Why does this girl bug me so much? I am in way better shape than her. She does hit the ball hard, and she is a good match up for me. It p*sses me off when she beats me...bah, I hate it! That is not the reason she bugs me. I just can't put my finger on it.

So, I have spent the week thinking about things I want. My list is lame...and it can't be bought.

-I want to be able to do a kick turn in the pool (I used to be able to do this, and I can't remember how)
-I want to qualify for the d*mn Boston Marathon
-I want to beat the Australian I hit with more than she beats me
-I want the Dow to be back at 12,000

How lame is that?!? I spent the better part of today thinking about things I want...and this is what it comes down to:P It's what I want.

So dear Husband, I know you are wondering what to buy your lovely wife, and since I know you can't do a kick turn...maybe a new tennis racket under the tree (grip size 4 1/2")
Am I crazy??? I'm crazy:P

20

Tennis & Life...

I was at the health club the other day. Miss Peach was in her tumbling class, and The Little Man and I were hanging around outside the pro shop (it was raining so we couldn't play outside). There were all these women, totally decked out in tennis gear. They really took over the lobby. They were loud, animated, and very dressed. I'd say the average age was 40. These ladies were gabbing and stretching, and I couldn't help but notice them.

Now let me interject here and tell ya, I am a pretty darn good tennis player, actually to quote my coach "I rock". I spent a good part of my younger years playing jr. tennis. Tennis was the place I fit in when I was growing up. Think Molly Ringwald in Pretty in Pink. That's how I grew up. I remember driving through Country Club Lane (in the beater car I nicknamed "The Crate") and just gazing at the mansions and wondering what it would be like to live in one of those houses. I remember wondering if I would ever make it to that side of the tracks. Truth be told, I have no idea how my Mom (single Mom of three) scraped up the money for me to play tennis, it was/is not cheap. She did it, and I played. I played on jr. teams. I played on travel teams. I played in country clubs we would have had nowhere near the amount of money to be members! I remember a tournament in St. Louis where I stayed with a family that had an elevator in their house...I just thought that was soooo insane! I have always said tennis kept me out of trouble as a kiddo. When other kids were stepping in sh*t, I was on the tennis court. I played until the lights went out, and sometimes I'd turn the headlights of the car on and keep playing. I did it, because I loved it. Tennis was where I fit in.

Now, there I sat watching these women and I actually thought "they must be better than me" how could they not be, they sure looked the part. What! Where did that come from? Finally, they moved on to their court, and The Little Man and I went on playing. As I held The Little Man's hand and walked him to the tumbling room to pick up Miss Peach, I looked over the railing down to the tennis courts below. There were the ladies on two courts. Can I tell you...they sucked! They were awful! I almost had to hold in my giggles.

In case you're wondering, I made it to the other side of the tracks. No, I don't live in a mansion, but I have a lovely town home in The Big City with a private patio, and parking. In The Big City, that's a lot! I guess I'm just saying, if your one of those ladies decked out in tennis gear...and you find a chick in running gear on the other side of the net...watch out...she's gonna kick your a**!

20

Holy LOST Batman, and Something for Me

OMG!!! Did that preview for next week give you goosebumps? I am shaking!!! First, I don't know why, but I loved Hugo and Ben sharing a candy bar:) Second, I kinda called it...I knew the guy in the cabin was Jack's Dad, but he didn't turn out to be Jacob. Move the island??? What does that mean? Loving John Locke, but I don't care about his past. I am thinking that the guy that doesn't age (Richard) is just time traveling, right? So it's not that he doesn't age, it's that he's time traveling. I wonder how far this concept goes...is Jack's father really dead, or is he time traveling, or Charlie, or Horace??? I just don't know. Freakin' scared of military guy, ahhhh! Did you catch that the Doctor was alive on the boat, but had already washed up on the island dead? I get there's a time shift between reality, and the island, but how can he be in two places at once??? What do you all think...what did I miss???!!!

I must tell you, going back to tennis has been the best thing I ever did! I have been hitting better than I ever thought I would. The best thing is that once a week, I get to do something for me. The kiddos seem to be having a great time in the playroom, and I think it's good for them to have away from Mommy time, and it's really good for me to:) Do you guys do anything just for you? I highly recommend that you do:)

20

Bummer.

Andy Roddick, what can I say??? I totally get behind you every time you play. You have arguably the best serve in tennis, and yet the only grand slam title you hold is the 2003 Us Open. What's up with that? You played great tennis last night, and still couldn't get a set off of Federer...bummer! (7-6,7-6,6-2) What's it gonna take? I really thought when Conners came on to your team that you were going to make that last push to the next level, and it just hasn't happened. I thank you for bringing Connors back to the game! It is great to see him in the stands. As far as I am concerned, the men's Open is over...Federer vs _____, and I don't care. I was rootin' for you! So have a nice break, and then come back swingin' I will still be pumpin' my fist when you win...and be sure to bring Connors back with you!!! (No Husband, I don't have a crush on Jimmy!)

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