the 25 yard lane
The pool opens from sunrise to sunset. When I get to it at 7:30 in the morning, a group of campers are there (from 7 to 8am), leads by a female coach, who told me the 25 yard spot to swim with the lane on the bottom – just perfect!
I did my mile in the main part of the pool, and moved to the smaller section by the cabanas after they left.
… the swim
1150 Anastasia Ave,
Coral Gables, FL 33134
William H. Kerdyk Sr. Biltmore Tennis Center,
Or
Coral Gables city courts: decent fancility with hard surface. Hotel guest gets the first hour free.
It felt a bit funny with the hard court, that the ball bounces so high and quickly. We managed an hour play on Court 5: 6-5 on serve when time ran out.
All around us, players are serious, both young and old. The father and son who came after us, said he is no longer his son’s coach because he couldn’t beat him any more. The boy is 15 and dreams of playing the junior circuit.
William H. Kerdyk Sr. (1946-2007) served as a Coral Gables City Commissioner for 28 years.
1200 Anastasia Avenue
Coral Gables, Florida 33134
The beautiful, free form swimming pool at Biltmore Hotel is one of the largest in the US. Image, how much joy I’m having – totally enjoying it!
Many groups of black starlings (?) and other little birds are always present, keeping us company, regardless how empty or busy the pool is.
The local residents can join the membership club and swim here too.
In the morning 7-8am, there is a swimming camp, heads by an ougoing lady, she said I can post her front face photo -:). I did a mile the following day.
There are eight cabanas for rent, complete with shower, mini fridge. Depending on the day of the week and time of the year, and size, it cost from $240 for four, to $725 for eight people, per day.
The poolside cafe Cascade becomes my workplace -:) the Blue of London Earl Grey black tea from Yunnan & bergamot (?) is my fave.
… the pool
One of us isn’t available, so Matt filled in. We won 6-1, 6-3 over Sandi and Cheri, who’s going to be a first time grandma in August.
I went in 30 minutes before the match and practiced … serve … and still couldn’t get rid of waiter’s tray.
In the match, my serve was really good, I’d say 80% or even 90% first serve in. And one of the reasons was I kept racket drop low.
The Wed am gang‘s game was a split.
Matt & I won the first set 6-2.
Joe and Sandy won the 2nd set 7-6 7-4
Matt was serving at 5-4, 40-0.
The next game, we were leading 0-40, but squandering it again.
In the 7 point tiebreak, we were down 0-6.
My right upper arm is in pain.
I was tired.
… more on serve below ⇓
Lost a 4-1 lead set.
I started the match, won my serve, and broke Mr. G.
2-0.
At 3-1, I served again. Needed several dueces to close the game (4-1), but it was really taxing.
Then, everything went south from there.
On serve, getting rid of waiter’s tray: throw the edge of the racket up to the ball OR throw the racket like a football.
4-1领先的情况下被逆转。
比赛开始，我先发球，拿下自己的发球局，然后破发G先生，2-0领先。
3-1时，我再次发球。虽然打了好几个平分才以4-1拿下这盘，但过程非常艰难。
之后，一切都开始走下坡路了。
糟心的早上
我们领先4-1
然后就没然后了
白浴血奋战一翻
家属和搭档最终6-4 赢
然后家属关心的问
Are you ok?
I am NOT
俺说 今天没晚饭
另外一老公 马上问他有木必胜客的电话
我对他搭档说 ‘电话你媳妇 让她今晚就卖了你换瓶酒 ’
大妈也是简直了
歇菜
隔壁场的四男也七嘴八舌
其一 “年轻时带个跳舞的女伴回家… 昨晚踢个没完没了 就没有停过…”
周末快乐
日子还得继续过下去呀
I served well: drop low is the tip from the coach so far!
This is our Wednesday gang‘s 2nd match: Joe & I won 6-4, 1-6, 10-8 super tiebreak.
I’ve no double fault, one ace, and lost one serve game in the second set, when we fell asleep.
Sally was late because of her late-night chat with a friend from half a century ago: they talked for over 3+ hours.
第二盘睡着了; 花里胡哨的
A mourning dove is around and circling the court, probably looking for a place to build its nest.
A good win: Matt & I def Edwin & Nina.
On serve: dropped the racket low works well; FB.
… the birds are all over me -:)
I started the game, winning it love, then broke her serve at love too. Matt won his in two deuces, after being 0-40 down. However, after we’ve 4-0, I lost my next serve.
The second set: Matt was serving at 5-2 but was unable to close. Serving at 5-4, 40-0, I was thinking happily that I should close it out with a love game. Then someone netted the ball. Luckily, I was able to close it out at 40-30.
A long while ago, Nina asked me to play singles, and because we couldn’t align time, that was it. I see her practice all the time: low and deep forehand. Today, it’s my first time playing her: weak serve and doesn’t move, which isn’t an advantage in a singles game.
… serves fm B – pronate?
… from 3 angles
今天发球不错: 记着球拍要drop low低.
我开局就轻松拿下第一局 at love, 然后又以love game破掉了她的发球局. 下一局需要二个平分赢 0-40. 第四局也轻松赢. 然而,在我们4-0领先之后，我的下一个发球局就被破掉.
第二盘: 我们5-2领先但没能拿下. 我在5-4, 40-0领发球时, 高兴地想着能以love game结束这一盘多好 前后呼应. 结果有人回球下网了. 还好,我最终还是在40-30时赢 拿下第二盘.
很久以前,妮邀请我打单打.因为我们时间不合适;没下文.我经常看到她练习:正手击球又低又深.今天是我第一次和她交手: 发球很弱,而且不动–这在单赛中可不是什么优势.
This is the first time that I went to the court twice but didn’t get to play: the courts are just too wet, all have puddles from the rain.
I stayed after the three left, to practice some serve.
A lucky day
幸好有碗红豆沙. 不然今天的晦气能直接入选年度回顾.
怀疑是不是忘了拜神
两件霉事 精准爆头
第一件——
我人生第一次一天跑两趟网球场
结果,两次都没打成
理由: 场地不够干
对
我和球场之间,差的不是技术,是天气
别人撤了; 我留下
一个人在空场上练发球
像个被赞助商解约的边缘选手
连个观众都没有
只有风和自尊心在场
第二件——
七夜网球轮船训练营
听上去像合心意的宣传片
每到一个港口上岸训练
运动 + 旅行 + 专业指导
八卦的素材都替我写好了。
明天出发
星期一通知取消
是的
第二次
第一次报名后就感觉不对劲：
沟通像失踪人口
收据像都市传说
客服像练了隐身术
我临阵逃跑·
朋友去了
回来讲了三天三夜
天方夜谭
仿佛自己刚从大满贯资格赛回来
于是——
屡教不改的大妈 再次登贼船
然后发现：
这不是邮轮。
这是PPT。
这家公司堪称商业界的抽象艺术：
好主意
零执行
靠想象力维持现金流
他们不是办训练营
他们是举办幻觉
最绝的是——
每次取消都卡在“临出发”
精准
稳定
像发球双误一样有节奏
如果你觉得我二。
放心。
你只是还没见过某些“网球职业人”的现实操作
球可以不进
但捣乱必须稳定
今日战绩：
球没打成
船没坐成
情绪被拉满
唯一兑现的
只有红豆沙
结论：
以后拜神要拜对
报名要看执行力
网球圈的“职业”两个字——
建议加引号
去拜天 还是拜地 [捂脸]
