Two blogs in one week....I don't know if I can do it. I'm just glad this entry is all good news. Just a warning; there are no "R" rated scenes, no cat fights, no temper tantrums, no clothing mishaps and no losses!
Thursday night we had to make up our match against the Solaris Hotshots that has been rained out twice. The team captain and I have been emailing each other for weeks trying to get this match played, so I was really glad to finally meet her. It was also good to know her cat was out of ICU and her mother-in-law was going back to Iowa next week and getting out of her hair! (I told you, we have been emailing each other A LOT....) Anyhow, they were a very nice group of ladies, and we had some great games, but we prevailed in all 5 matches.
Orna took first singles with a 6-3, 1-6, 1-0 win. Not sure what happened in that second set (I know, she hypnotized you, right?)
Tanya continued her singles winning streak with a 6-0, 6-2 win over a very nice woman named Nicole. Way to go!
After a very difficult first set where I was trying to poach balls that were clearly not mine, returning every serve into the net, and missing every overhead, Gale and I decided that our best strategy would be for me not to touch the ball unless it landed right on my racket. That worked and we won 7-6. In the second set I regained my eyesight, Gale continued to poach like a pro and rush the net, and we were able to jump ahead 4-1. Our opponents were seasoned doubles players and fought hard, but we were able to keep the pressure on, and prevailed with a 6-4 win.
At second singles, the happily married couple, Kat and Amy, took on a what appeared to be Annie Oakley and her side-kick. Was that woman wearing a prairie skirt? Ok, that was mean...our dynamic duo won their match 6-3, 7-5, and lived happily ever after....
Our newly married couple, Joy and Malyn also defeated their opponenets 6-4, 7-5, but they were on court 10 and I didn't see any of the match. Really - I have no idea what happened! I'm sorry you guys! I know you are upset, but I can't be in two places at once! Now go finish your homework and clean your room!
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Bad Sportsmanship or Taking Control?
Listening to soothing spa music on my way back from Brooklyn yesterday, I felt like I was in total control. I had a good day at work; my client liked my website design, told me how great I was, finally paid me, and for a change, the traffic on the BQE was actually moving! And that forecast of rain; also not happening. Not a drop of rain in sight. Nothing but beautiful blue sky and sunshine. Yeah, this is a good day to play a tennis match!
I got home at 4:30, got in the shower, and then I heard the phone ring.........I jumped out, dripping wet, and answered the phone. It was Lisa. Her daughter is sick; throwing up. She thinks she has Coxsackie. Ok, ok, let me see if I can find someone else to play for you. As I'm hanging up the phone my 12 year old daughter walks into my bedroom with her girl friend (who I have never met), and they both scream in unison when they see my 48 year old NAKED dripping wet body. Poor girl, she's going to have nightmares. I'm losing that sense of control.....
I quickly get dressed, send out an email to the team looking for a warm body with a tennis racket, then make a few calls. I finally get Joy to sign on, call Kathleen to talk about who should play with who and we come up with a line-up. I quickly put together my tennis bag with all my various splints, wraps, braces and ointments, then head out the door.
I get to Saw Mill and see a friend who stops me to comment on the cute skirt I have on. But it looks backwards....crap! No wonder I felt uncomfortable! I run into the bathroom and yes, this pleated, tiered, layered, over-designed piece of junk Nike has produced is backward. Jeez, it's already 5:45. At least I remembered the beer - but then realize I have forgotten the guacamole. At this point, I know I've lost control, but just don't want to admit it. I tell myself it's no big deal. Cathleen, you got a team together, the opponents are in last place, how hard could it be?
We start the warm-up, the other captain tells me one of her players is stuck in traffic, and will be a "little" late. Ok, not problem. At 6:15, I tell the other captain we want to default the match if she's not here in 5 minutes. They tell me she is here, she's just changing. It's 6:25, and Joanna wants to take the default. The other team calls the player, she's not answering. I tell them we are defaulting the match. They tell me I am a bad sportsman. Ouch!
We start our matches, and sure enough, "late girl" walks around the corner ready to play. I stop playing my match, walk over and tell her the match is defaulted that she was supposed to be here at 6:00. Ok, she and Joanna are going to go hit anyway. The girls we are playing are mad at me and are giving me the evil eye. I don't care, I'm in control!
Then my match starts and I realize, these ladies are pretty good. Even though they are in last place, this game is not going to be a walk in the park. Ann and I haven't played a match together before, but we do our best. As she told me later, Ann plays a steady game and I make the impressive shots. But I also hit a lot into the net. And out. I can't stop thinking about them calling me a bad sport....did I do the right thing? Should I have let them play the match late? Last time I did that we lost the match. But am I a bad sport? I don't want to be a bad sport....I want people to think I'm a good sport....I hope my daughter's friend isn't permanently damaged.....I hit another ball into the net. We lose the first set 6-4.
The second set I tell myself to stop thinking about all this stuff and just hit the yellow ball! I charge the net, smash overheads and Ann is working so hard she's grunting. Yes, I said grunting.....she's a tough cookie when she's mad. We were up 4-1, but kept the pressure on, and eventually win the set 6-3. Ok, now I'm in control! We start the super-tie break, and are up, down, up, down, up, then they pull ahead and beat us 10-7. Now I have to admit to myself I am definitely NOT in control......
I find out our first doubles duo, Gale and Karen have won their match 6-3, 6-3. That makes them 5-0 for the season! Wow, they are a really good team. But Gale is leaving in a week.....what are we going to do? I really do have NO control at all!!!!!
After some self-doubt in her second set, Tanya wins her match (YES!!!) 6-2, 5-7, 1-0. I knew she could do it! With that serve, that blistering forehand, (and no partner to get in her way), how could she not? Congrats Tanya! You, my dear, are in control!
I purposely did not look at what was going in beside me at second doubles, but it appeared that Kathleen and Joy were struggling against a tough team. Last night, last place did not mean a sure win, and the other team proved that by defeating, Kat at Joy 6-2, 6-0. A big thank you to Joy for coming in at the last minute to play! Tonight you both get to play with your regular partners, and I'm sure things will go much better.
So after all the mishaps, changes, name calling and misunderstandings, our team pulled out a 3-2 win over the NYAC Junos. Maybe I do have some control over life after all!
I got home at 4:30, got in the shower, and then I heard the phone ring.........I jumped out, dripping wet, and answered the phone. It was Lisa. Her daughter is sick; throwing up. She thinks she has Coxsackie. Ok, ok, let me see if I can find someone else to play for you. As I'm hanging up the phone my 12 year old daughter walks into my bedroom with her girl friend (who I have never met), and they both scream in unison when they see my 48 year old NAKED dripping wet body. Poor girl, she's going to have nightmares. I'm losing that sense of control.....
I quickly get dressed, send out an email to the team looking for a warm body with a tennis racket, then make a few calls. I finally get Joy to sign on, call Kathleen to talk about who should play with who and we come up with a line-up. I quickly put together my tennis bag with all my various splints, wraps, braces and ointments, then head out the door.
I get to Saw Mill and see a friend who stops me to comment on the cute skirt I have on. But it looks backwards....crap! No wonder I felt uncomfortable! I run into the bathroom and yes, this pleated, tiered, layered, over-designed piece of junk Nike has produced is backward. Jeez, it's already 5:45. At least I remembered the beer - but then realize I have forgotten the guacamole. At this point, I know I've lost control, but just don't want to admit it. I tell myself it's no big deal. Cathleen, you got a team together, the opponents are in last place, how hard could it be?
We start the warm-up, the other captain tells me one of her players is stuck in traffic, and will be a "little" late. Ok, not problem. At 6:15, I tell the other captain we want to default the match if she's not here in 5 minutes. They tell me she is here, she's just changing. It's 6:25, and Joanna wants to take the default. The other team calls the player, she's not answering. I tell them we are defaulting the match. They tell me I am a bad sportsman. Ouch!
We start our matches, and sure enough, "late girl" walks around the corner ready to play. I stop playing my match, walk over and tell her the match is defaulted that she was supposed to be here at 6:00. Ok, she and Joanna are going to go hit anyway. The girls we are playing are mad at me and are giving me the evil eye. I don't care, I'm in control!
Then my match starts and I realize, these ladies are pretty good. Even though they are in last place, this game is not going to be a walk in the park. Ann and I haven't played a match together before, but we do our best. As she told me later, Ann plays a steady game and I make the impressive shots. But I also hit a lot into the net. And out. I can't stop thinking about them calling me a bad sport....did I do the right thing? Should I have let them play the match late? Last time I did that we lost the match. But am I a bad sport? I don't want to be a bad sport....I want people to think I'm a good sport....I hope my daughter's friend isn't permanently damaged.....I hit another ball into the net. We lose the first set 6-4.
The second set I tell myself to stop thinking about all this stuff and just hit the yellow ball! I charge the net, smash overheads and Ann is working so hard she's grunting. Yes, I said grunting.....she's a tough cookie when she's mad. We were up 4-1, but kept the pressure on, and eventually win the set 6-3. Ok, now I'm in control! We start the super-tie break, and are up, down, up, down, up, then they pull ahead and beat us 10-7. Now I have to admit to myself I am definitely NOT in control......
I find out our first doubles duo, Gale and Karen have won their match 6-3, 6-3. That makes them 5-0 for the season! Wow, they are a really good team. But Gale is leaving in a week.....what are we going to do? I really do have NO control at all!!!!!
After some self-doubt in her second set, Tanya wins her match (YES!!!) 6-2, 5-7, 1-0. I knew she could do it! With that serve, that blistering forehand, (and no partner to get in her way), how could she not? Congrats Tanya! You, my dear, are in control!
I purposely did not look at what was going in beside me at second doubles, but it appeared that Kathleen and Joy were struggling against a tough team. Last night, last place did not mean a sure win, and the other team proved that by defeating, Kat at Joy 6-2, 6-0. A big thank you to Joy for coming in at the last minute to play! Tonight you both get to play with your regular partners, and I'm sure things will go much better.
So after all the mishaps, changes, name calling and misunderstandings, our team pulled out a 3-2 win over the NYAC Junos. Maybe I do have some control over life after all!
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
A Bad Hair Day = A Bad Tennis Day
I watched the sky all day and thought rain was inevitable by the way my hair kept getting wilder and curlier by the hour. So I ate a bad lunch, munched on too many mm's from my giant Costco bag while sitting in traffic, and wouldn't you know it - it never rained! So out I trudged to play my match at 6:00, and my feet felt like cement! Footwork? What's that? Never heard of it. Overheads are meant to go over the net? Come on! I have to keep the ball inside the green box? Well, I hope the rest of you had a good time, (not that it wasn't fun to be outside playing tennis instead of doing dishes), but I'm going to finish off that bottle of wine and hit the pillow right after I tell you what else happened tonight.
First of all, our wonderful 1st doubles team of Gale Ritterhoff and Karen Piazza had a tough time in the first set, (1-6), but Gale tells me that Karen used the U.S. Marines method of partnership to get her back in the game. "You are Gale Ritterhoff. You don't lose tennis matches!" Gale said Karen's attitude not only helped them win the 2nd set, 6-2, but pushed them to a win the tie-break. So congrats ladies on your 3rd win together!
At second singles, Tanya and I struggled in the first set. Unable to pull my head out of my ass, I spent the first three games returning serves into the net, hitting everything out and wondering when Steve would leave so I could look him in the eye again....Thank goodness Tanya was awake and poached like a champ and served up bullets, but alas....we lost the first set 6-3. We switched sides in the 2nd set which seemed to help, but as hard as we fought, the Rye ladies made very few mistakes and just outplayed us. At one point I think we hit about 10 overheads in a row, all of which came right back at us. I got impatient several times and slammed the ball into the net. I had to END THE POINT!! Patience is supposed to come as you get older, right? Well, the second set went to Rye, the more mature, more patient team, 6-4. After the match I went right to my bottle....wahhhhh
Gee, it's 12:15 and I'm pretty sure my 12 year old is still up and watching tv. I should probably go tell her to go to bed, but what the hell.....I'm such a bad tennis mother....
Okay, we are at 3rd doubles now...Amy Baker and Kathleen Gilston. I was trying really hard to concentrate on my game and not get distracted, but I did peep a few times. It looked like a tough match. Lots of good shots by both teams. Our girls blew them away in the first set 6-2. Then some astral phenomenon happened and they lost the second set 6-4. WTF!! Ok, it's the tie break and now I've finished my game and am watching Kat and Amy. It looks close, then someone offers me a giant bag of mm's and a glass of wine- I turn around - and the match is over! What happened??? They lost the tie-break and now I have heart-burn.....
This night just keeps getting better and better.....
Richard! Why are you messing with Joanna's racket?? And where were you during our match?? Joanna needed you!!! And so did the team! What if there was an argument? What if someone screamed osbscenities during the match?? You are our good luck charm! Please don't leave us again? Ok? Pretty please?? Not that it was your fault or anything, but Joanna lost 6-0, 6-2. I hope you gave her a back rub, at least....
And last but not least, our first singles player, Lesley Kalenson (tall, white headband, very good tan, big smile), lost a tough one, 6-4, 6-3. But here's the thing; every time I looked over at her court during my match, I thought she was winning because she was smiling so much! I was shocked when she told me she had lost. When I'm losing I think I must look like a deranged hyena, but there's Lesley, looking like she just won the lottery! Now that is a skill!
First of all, our wonderful 1st doubles team of Gale Ritterhoff and Karen Piazza had a tough time in the first set, (1-6), but Gale tells me that Karen used the U.S. Marines method of partnership to get her back in the game. "You are Gale Ritterhoff. You don't lose tennis matches!" Gale said Karen's attitude not only helped them win the 2nd set, 6-2, but pushed them to a win the tie-break. So congrats ladies on your 3rd win together!
At second singles, Tanya and I struggled in the first set. Unable to pull my head out of my ass, I spent the first three games returning serves into the net, hitting everything out and wondering when Steve would leave so I could look him in the eye again....Thank goodness Tanya was awake and poached like a champ and served up bullets, but alas....we lost the first set 6-3. We switched sides in the 2nd set which seemed to help, but as hard as we fought, the Rye ladies made very few mistakes and just outplayed us. At one point I think we hit about 10 overheads in a row, all of which came right back at us. I got impatient several times and slammed the ball into the net. I had to END THE POINT!! Patience is supposed to come as you get older, right? Well, the second set went to Rye, the more mature, more patient team, 6-4. After the match I went right to my bottle....wahhhhh
Gee, it's 12:15 and I'm pretty sure my 12 year old is still up and watching tv. I should probably go tell her to go to bed, but what the hell.....I'm such a bad tennis mother....
Okay, we are at 3rd doubles now...Amy Baker and Kathleen Gilston. I was trying really hard to concentrate on my game and not get distracted, but I did peep a few times. It looked like a tough match. Lots of good shots by both teams. Our girls blew them away in the first set 6-2. Then some astral phenomenon happened and they lost the second set 6-4. WTF!! Ok, it's the tie break and now I've finished my game and am watching Kat and Amy. It looks close, then someone offers me a giant bag of mm's and a glass of wine- I turn around - and the match is over! What happened??? They lost the tie-break and now I have heart-burn.....
This night just keeps getting better and better.....
Richard! Why are you messing with Joanna's racket?? And where were you during our match?? Joanna needed you!!! And so did the team! What if there was an argument? What if someone screamed osbscenities during the match?? You are our good luck charm! Please don't leave us again? Ok? Pretty please?? Not that it was your fault or anything, but Joanna lost 6-0, 6-2. I hope you gave her a back rub, at least....
And last but not least, our first singles player, Lesley Kalenson (tall, white headband, very good tan, big smile), lost a tough one, 6-4, 6-3. But here's the thing; every time I looked over at her court during my match, I thought she was winning because she was smiling so much! I was shocked when she told me she had lost. When I'm losing I think I must look like a deranged hyena, but there's Lesley, looking like she just won the lottery! Now that is a skill!
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
4-1 Victory in Bardonia!
The West Rock Starz didn't shine very brightly tonight against the Saw Mill Spinderellas!
I'm too wound up to sleep after such a great team win, so here it is, 1:00 in the morning, and with it so fresh in my mind, I need to tell you right now what went down across the river tonight:
At 1st doubles, Gale and Karen kicked butt again and won 6-2, 6-3. The other team could not believe this was their first year to play 3.5!
At 2nd doubles, Cathleen and Tanya lost 7-5, 6-4 against a very tough pair that seemed more like a 1st doubles team......
At 3rd doubles, Joy and Malyn won their first 3.5 USTA match, 7-6, 7-5! Congrats ladies, you were awesome!
At 1st singles Cindy won the first set 6-3, but was down 5-2 in the second set when her opponent had to retire with a foot injury. We'll take it!
At 2nd singles Joanna shined for hubby Rich, and won 6-2, 7-5. It was also Joanna's first 3.5 USTA victory, and I'm sure it won't be her last!
I want you all to know that the team we played tonight has been together for 15 years! They even have a book club together! Their captain was very impressed and commented on what a strong team we have, and was surprised when I told her that almost all of us had been 3.0 players last year. So you should all be very proud of yourselves for playing so well against such a seasoned group of players!
I want to say a special thanks to Rich Callwell for helping negotiate a truce between Cindy and her opponent. We miss you at SMC!!
I'm too wound up to sleep after such a great team win, so here it is, 1:00 in the morning, and with it so fresh in my mind, I need to tell you right now what went down across the river tonight:
At 1st doubles, Gale and Karen kicked butt again and won 6-2, 6-3. The other team could not believe this was their first year to play 3.5!
At 2nd doubles, Cathleen and Tanya lost 7-5, 6-4 against a very tough pair that seemed more like a 1st doubles team......
At 3rd doubles, Joy and Malyn won their first 3.5 USTA match, 7-6, 7-5! Congrats ladies, you were awesome!
At 1st singles Cindy won the first set 6-3, but was down 5-2 in the second set when her opponent had to retire with a foot injury. We'll take it!
At 2nd singles Joanna shined for hubby Rich, and won 6-2, 7-5. It was also Joanna's first 3.5 USTA victory, and I'm sure it won't be her last!
I want you all to know that the team we played tonight has been together for 15 years! They even have a book club together! Their captain was very impressed and commented on what a strong team we have, and was surprised when I told her that almost all of us had been 3.0 players last year. So you should all be very proud of yourselves for playing so well against such a seasoned group of players!
I want to say a special thanks to Rich Callwell for helping negotiate a truce between Cindy and her opponent. We miss you at SMC!!
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