tennis, life and a few things in between

Last night was the 3.5 league at USTA.  Simon wanted to play it too, but was told can not lah – because he has played in the 4.0 league.  So he dragged me to go tennis watching.  Didn’t know many Weekend Morning guys were in this group too. 
Before men’s 3.5 it was the ladies 4.0.  After their match, one group stayed, like a girls-night-out, wines, picnics … the party was even extended to the parking lot (very odd, under the Center court).  5 matches, 4 wins. 
Simon C the captain played singles, so did Sunny.  I *think* I need to restate my 3.5 to 3.0, since Sunny is playing in the 3.5 league!  Simon had great win last night, teaming up with the Mongolian (don’t know his name) who has plenty fire power.  They mixed it up well, and won 6:2 and 6:3 against the two 4.5 guys – I knew many players would go as low as they possibly could.  Personal preference… 
Sunny’s opponent was the type of player either a cheater or just too nerves that he called everything out; Simon C the captain’s opponent had bad temper, screaming and abusing his racket …  all too familiar with USTA sanctioned leagues.  Simon said if I don’t want to play girls league, I could do mix … not sure I really wanted it, although the pressure does do wonder to my game.  Good thing about participate at USTA vs home league is the playing time: evenings vs late mornings. 
Tony walked from Flushing to meet us there, lord.  Well, he’s an actuary, knows the % of risk, lol. 
He said, “I don’t know why no one takes Simon seriously at first.  They all think what’s this 2.0 player is doing here with us?” 
I take him seriously from the get go, but just my brain doesn’t hold his teaching long enough to produce an improvement – left ear in, right ear out without much of a pause, :))…. Age does that to me.  Anyway, it’s a great night… taking time watching others play do help, unfortunately I don’t have much time to spare, 🙁 …  Sunny said I should bring Slowpoke to play with them, “we are all there … all the time …”  that’s sweet.   Almost forgot, Simon G played Sunny once before, so they’re not strangers.

Cycling is the new golf, at least in Silicon Valley.  On any given weekend morning, scores of spandex-clad rainmakers coverage on coffee shop parking lots across Silicon Valley to prepare for a mourning climb up the roads that wind their way through the nearby hills …  This’s been going on for a while.  I do spot spandex-clad bikers on LIE often during warmer weather mornings.  I’m really impressed by Lance Legstrong … but less so when I actually dealt with them: at Sunday’s race, they seemed couldn’t care less if someone is interested.  Email asking for more info got no answer. 

There’s a USA Cycling Organization sanctioned race in town today.  Darn, I missed it!  I’d participate if I know.  They closed off sections in town, which made it very enjoyable.  We have many amenities but no biking lanes.  I told the kids that we’re in next year this time.  Kinglazy liked to bike but Slowpoke is no.  We’ll see.

A very nice day it turned out.  Yesterday Simon dragged me out to play and today was Tony and his wife Jinyu.  I had good time hitting with her.  I met her last year and she improved her game very quickly since, now with very effective and good looking back hand and forehand.  Not to mention her endless long legs.  Tony is a 5.0 player, within our little circle, he has no opponent, but like to hangout with us anyway.  Lou (not sure it’s Louie, Louis or Lewis) played with us this morning before Simon finally woke up from his dream loaded with beers and wines from last night.  Lou and I hit if off right away last year.  No one introduced us.  He was injured and just came to chat, then started making fun of me, lol.  But he’s really a nice guy, with a single hand backhand.  Yesterday he teamed up with Peter against Simon and I.  Of course I was very busy, lol the weakest link.  But from time to time, he’d give me a sweet shot to hit (to provent me from crying afterward, lol) which annoyed Peter very much.  Today when Jinyu teamed up with Simon vs he and I, against he gave her many sugar shots.  Nice thing to do, not that I’m looking for easy way out.  He repeatedly told me to hit deep, stay behind the baseline,  identical to Simon’s coaching …  One thing he picked out which Simon didn’t, was turn my body.  I never realized that I didn’t!  Hey, Craig said he liked my backhand very much, only few weeks ago, lol…  I knew exact what he’s talking about, and he’s very right.  I’ve been working on it, okay!  Tony said I should always on my toes, like wearing high heels.  I’m always on my heels, lol.  It’s only 4.0 I’m dreaming about?  Lord if I could maintain the 3.5 I should feel lucky.  I need to get my act together.

I rarely played till this late, till 12 noon.  Usually starts at 6:30 and done by 9am.  But this group doesn’t like to start till 10am.  While having good time but I also felt guilty, I’m taking away the time I should spend with kids.  Jinyu went out with the group last night and she said Simon was in her ear the whole time, asking if she’d like to play early (with me), sweet Simon, lol.  Jinyu woke up at 7am, waiting, 8am, still no call.  Finally they called me around 9.

We hiked after lunch with my g/f, then went to the park.  Slowpoke was in a grumpy mood, so we didn’t stay long.  I felt bit embarrassed, why would she act like that?  Passing by the MMA, we went in, showed gf around a little since she swims too.  I used to swim and compete at MMA: 500 free came in at 8:42 minutes and 1000 was 17:47. . . yes I won: Kinglazy, Slowpoke and Reberto were on hand cheering me on.  We both laughed at the pool size just down right stingy in the US.

—                                  One of our parks