Monday, December 19, 2005

Here she is



Why is there a photo of Martina Hingis on this blog? What, I have to explain it?

Back from Seattle

I actually got away for once .... visited Seattle Dec. 9-11. The city was spectacular, and it was great to get on a plane and go somewhere. The supposed reason for the trip was the 49ers-Seahawks game on Dec. 11, and of course that didn't turn out so well. The 49ers got crushed and played perhaps the worst game in franchise history in the process. But no matter. Visiting such Seattle landmarks as Pike's Market and the Space Needle made it a great trip. Now I've got the traveling bug, contemplating my next trip. Wimbledon, here I come! Maybe.

Thursday, September 29, 2005

Getting into a new racket

I've been threatening to buy a new racket for like years and years. Finally I did it. Put a Prince More Attack in my hand at SportMart and it just felt right so I bought it then and there. I was just tired of not having a new racket -- my old one's all beat to hell -- so I just went and did it. I haven't even hit with it yet -- it's being strung as we speak. I didn't demo the thing beforehand, so who knows if I even like it. Well, I'd better like it -- it's going to be my weapon of choice for the next few years.

Saturday, September 03, 2005

Some good news to report

Hey, you can't lose them all, right? I finally got my first victory of my singles league today, beating Tony 6-3, 6-4. He came into the match 0-5 just like me, so someone was going to get their first win of the season. Fortunately, it was me. I didn't play particularly well but I guess I kept the ball in play better than he did and I made a couple of nice defensive plays that somehow became winners. I know I can play lots better, but man, does it feel good to finally get a W. The match also qualifies me to play in the year-end tournament.

Friday, August 12, 2005

To my devoted fans

Sorry I haven't posted in awhile. There hasn't been anything out of the ordinary to report -- lots of tennis, lots of losing. With more to come, I'm sure. I'm signed up for a senior men's league and a 6.0 doubles league. Much fun to be had by one and all.

Tuesday, July 12, 2005

Lots of work to do

Well, if I had any doubts where I stood in the 3.5 tennis heirarchy, they were answered in my last two matches. On Saturday, I lost in two sets at Willow Pass Park in my senior doubles league, 6-2, 6-1. Then on Sunday, I played my first match of the 3.5 singles league and fell at Rudgear Park to Paul, 6-0, 6-4. Losing just 6-4 might sound somewhat impressive, but while driving home I realized that Paul, a really nice guy, was probably just screwing around that second set and let me win a few games. In any case, what I suspected I now know is true: I don't have 3.5 game yet. I have to do some major work on my swing and my timing so I can play competitively in the 3.5 world.

Monday, July 11, 2005

Who this?



Why do I have a picture of Jose Carlos Fajardo here? Because I can, that's why.

Thursday, June 30, 2005

Victory

It had to happen sometime, and it did last Saturday. My partner and I won a close match at Crow Canyon in 3 sets, 6-4 in the third. It was my debut for the 50 mixed seniors team I signed up for, so I was glad to make a good first impression. And man, after all the losing I've done this year, was it ever good to win. I didn't even hold serve until midway through the second set, but once I got it going we turned the tide. And best of all, my back survived it all. Victory is mine!

Monday, June 20, 2005

Test

I went to the high school and hit the tennis ball against the wall a little bit as a test of my achin' back. The good news was I could make all the shots I needed to make. The slightly bad news was my lower back was a little sore while I played. Then I hit about 20 serves, and the good news there was the back wasn't a problem at all. So overall, I'd say I passed the test. But there was some soreness when I played so I know I'm not 100 percent. But I know I can play, so that's a good thing.

Wednesday, June 15, 2005

Still

The back is hurting still. Don't know when I'll get back to playing tennis. Bad timing on my part _ I signed up to play in a 3.5 singles league and now I'm on the sidelines. My back feels pretty good at night, but in the mornings _ pain. I'm basically going to shut things down until July, then reevaluate from there.

Thursday, June 09, 2005

Ouch!

I must have tweaked my back in my last match, because the lower back hurts like hell. Stuff like getting in and out of bed and in and out of my car is a painful struggle right now. I already canceled my last match for Sunday. I might even have to break down and see the doctor.

Monday, June 06, 2005

Way to go, team

Played at the beautiful Moraga Country Club, and although I lost in my match, our team won the overall match. That's a good win for us, because Moraga had a winning record. I guess they took us lightly! Curtis and I played a fun match, splitting sets then losing in the third-set tiebreaker. Again it was a case of playing well enough to compete but just not good enough to win. Maybe next time.

Saturday, May 21, 2005

Nice try

Well, Steve and I played No. 1 doubles vs. a team that hadn't lost all season. Steve and I gave it all we had but still ended up on the short end, 6-4, 6-2. My serving continues to be good, my net game very spotty. I'm not helping Steve much on his serve. The good part is Steve and I played a good team and we were pretty competitive. We play again on Sunday against Sleepy Hollow, a team that, like us, hasn't won this season. This is our chance for our first match win this season! Doesn't the law of averages say we gotta win sometime?

Thursday, May 19, 2005

Two times the fun

I've got league matches both Saturday and Sunday. All right -- two more chances to remain without victory in 2005!!! Whooo-weee!!!!!!

Wednesday, May 11, 2005

Putting the '0' in '05'

Let's see, the tennis team I'm on hasn't won a match this season and my softball team hasn't won a game this year. Coincidence? I think not.

Sunday, May 08, 2005

Who are those guys?

Another league match, another loss. This time Darrell and I partnered up, and we fell in two sets at St. Mary's to a couple of good players, 6-1, 6-3. Same type of match Steve and I played on Thursday, stumble around at first, then get better in the second set but still fall short. Boy, am I awful, 3.5 player-wise. Gotta step up to keep pace with the competition. It's a challenge, but you know what? It's fun.

Thursday, May 05, 2005

Lose-win situation

Well, I survived. Steve and I fell to the Valley Vista doubles team 6-1, 6-4. But even though it was a loss I came away feeling like it was a win. My leg was absolutely fine -- I seem 100 percent healed from the pulled muscles I had sustained. And I was happy enough with my game after not having played for almost two weeks. My serve was pretty strong -- I only lost serve once in the match. No, I didn't play great, but I feel like this is very good base to start from. I didn't suck. That was my goal, to not suck, and I achieved that. I'm playing in another league match on Saturday at St. Mary's, so I hope to do even better. For now, I'm just glad I survived playing in the No. 1 doubles slot against a very good team and came away not too displeased with my game. I'm glad my partner was Steve. I've known him a long time and played lots of tennis with him. He's a great guy and a solid player. He was a little off his game and he was a little unhappy about it. He's playing Saturday, too. Hopefully we'll all do better. Oh, yeah, our team lost the match so we're 0-4 now. Captain Jim says we've been playing all the hard teams, and there are some easier teams up ahead for us to whomp on. Good.

Take my poll, SG Family

No thanks from the rain

The tennis gods have not answered my prayers. I was hoping for rain today so our match would be rained out. Instead, it's only overcast so it looks like we'll play. Thanks a lot, rain.

Tuesday, May 03, 2005

Oh great

I just checked my e-mail and I see the team captain has me playing No. 1 doubles on Thursday. Wonderful. Here I haven't played in two weeks, I'm going to be rusty as hell, and I'm playing with the top doubles players, plus it's at Valley Vista, and they're always tough. Real tough. I see a total set-up for disaster. I guess I'll just have to do the best I can, and we'll see where that gets us. I'm going to play tennis with Jonathan on Wednesday and I'll test out my leg to see how I'm doing. My left leg's been feeling OK ... but then again I haven't been putting it through the rigors of tennis. Hopefully I'll make it through Wednesday and be able to play Thursday. But I see all kinds of trouble ahead for Thursday.

Sunday, May 01, 2005

Hey Ray, vote now





When will Ray leave work today?


Saturday, April 30, 2005

Hello

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