tennis, life and a few things in between

It has been four weeks since I stepped on to a court. Although the pain I suffered was all too fresh, but the joy of playing tennis is overwhelming. 好了伤疤忘了痛 The injuries come with it, requires compromise. Finding that perfect balance is the key.

No matter how much warm up prior to and stretch after the game, injury seems unavoidable. Now I do jacuzzi/spa before the game too. Hope this helps.

The 4 weeks layoff is very apparent: I feel tired after an hour hitting. I didn’t even try to serve.

The down side of playing on the har tru (sandy) is we’ll have to swipe the court afterward.

Bidding starts each hand, and the points (hcp and or long/short suit) determine how you bid, or not.

The basic rule for opening bid in each level, w/ hcp:

1. NT 16-18; suit: 12-13 (♦️♣️: 3; ♠️♥️ 5 in suit)
2. NT 21-23; suit: 22 hcp in ♠️♥️♦️♣️ 5 card suit
3. of a suit: Preemptive; weak (5-9 hcp) 7-card suit
4. of a suit: Preemptive; weak (6-10 hcp) 8-card suit; NT
5. NT slam bid asking for kings

Conventions are used in bidding.  

Responses

Responses to partner’s 1NT opening bid: (Responses to a 2NT opening bid are the same, except 2NT 3C is Stayman)

• Pass: Normal if game is out of reach, unless 2D 2H or 2S is a safer contract.
• 2C is Stayman, promising some 4+ card major and asking partner to bid her 4-card major (2H or 2S) if she has one, otherwise to bid 2D. You can subsequently shift to a major to show a 5-card suit and invite game.
• 2D, 2H, or 2S is a sign-off; partner must pass.
• 2NT is invitational to 3NT; partner will raise if at the high end of her 16-18.
• 3-of-a-suit is forcing. Partner will raise with 3+ card support, and otherwise bid 3NT.
• 3NT or 4H or 4S is a sign-off in game.
• 4C is Gerber, asking for aces. Partner responds 4D with 0 or 4 aces, 4H with 1, 4S with 2, 4NT with 3.
• 4NT is invitational to 6NT (This is quantitative, not Blackwood.)

Responses to partner’s 1-of-a-suit bid

• Pass with 0-5 points.
• ^{1H →} 2H = 6-10 points and support in the suit (8+ cards between you)
• ^{1H →} 3H = force a game, 13 points and support.
• ^{1H →}  4H = is a sign-off, indicating a weak hand but with many trumps.
• ^{1H →}  1S = 6-18 points, and 4+ cards in the suit. Forcing, i.e. don’t let the bidding stop there.
• ^{1H →}  2C = 10-18 points, and 4+ cards in the suit. Forcing (except by passed hand).
• ^{1H →} 2S = 19+ points. Forcing to game, and slam is likely.
• ^{1H →} 1NT =: 6-9 points, no fit in partner’s suit, no other suit that can be bid at one level. Not necessarily balanced.
• ^{1H →} 2NT = 13-15 points and a balanced hand, and usually no 4+ card major suits.
• ^{1H →} 3NT = 16-18 points and a balanced hand.

501 Marlins Way,
Miami, FL 33125

… more pix n videos on Google Maps

It’s the home of Miami baseball team Marlins. It’s a retractable roof stadium, seating capacity is 37,000. Opened in 2012. A little more history from Reddit, from the letters (Orange Bowl) to not having Cuban culture theme, to blame Broward Country commissioners.

It’s near Little Havana. The parking garages charge $20. Many private homes also offer parking for the games, at the same price – we’ve never taken up on that.

• Mets def Marlins
• World Baseball Classic 2023

Cup holders: cheap seats don’t have them … gee, Van Wezel doesn’t discriminate -:)

There are these alphabets on the ground – do they mean anything, or just a decor? A, N, O could be Loan but M or W?   … Some fans said it’s a nod to the Orange Bowl, which the current arena is built on.

When I hear pram bowl, I think of tennis -:) once a junky, always a junky.

31 Piazza Dr.
Port St. Lucie, FL 34986

Will return.

Mets’ training days are played here. We passed by Cardinals’ in Jupiter which looks rather minor. This one for the Mets is pretty major.

It’s my first time to a training game and like it a lot. The park is intimate compare to Shea and now Citifield. The bathrooms are plenty and clean. Food smell rather good – given the fact that I just had a huge meal. Staff is courteous.

Tonight’s game vs St. Louis Cardinals is a tie: 4-4.

Climbing the Everest isn’t lonesome sport anymore, for some years, if not decades. Lately, I’ve been seeing photos of the climbers waiting in lone long line to get to the top. Any fun?

Before the sun rise and set in November

A glorious day, at sea, unfortunately – would rather have it when we have excursion …

I ended up led a short yoga session – ya, me leading, can’t imagine but I did. I think everyone is trying to do something.

All the photos are taken by ship’s photographer, thank you!

Did a few poses at Akpatok Island, Canada, with mud boots, life vest and the parka. It’s polar bears territory, so our armed guards ask us to have the life vest while on the beach – so we can run or evacuate immediately should a bear appear.